Floods persist in 12 provinces

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Floods persist in 12 provinces
The Nation 2011-08-18

As of yesterday's official count, 29 people had drowned and 200,000 had been affected by lingering floods in 12 provinces.

One person was missing in Mae Hong Son province, while Phrae has suffered the heaviest death toll at eight, Wibool Sa-nguamphong, director-general of the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department, said yesterday.

Flood waters have receded in 15 provinces but remained high in 12, he said.

The flooding in the 27 provinces has affected 3.18 million people from 810,249 households in 247 districts, while in the 12 provinces still flooded, 215,075 people in 86,357 households in 68 districts have been affected.

The 12 provinces are Sukhothai, Uttaradit, Phichit, Kamphaeng Phet and Phitsanulok in the lower North; Nakhon Sawan, Nakhon Nayok and Ayutthaya in the Central region; and Roi Et, Kalasin, Mukdahan and Ubon Ratchathani in the Northeast.

Flash floods and mudslides are possible in low-lying areas or along mountain ranges in 40 provinces. Warning signs include swollen rivers, changes in the colour of or murkier currents, rainfall exceeding 100 millimetres in six hours, and currents carrying leaves and branches.

In the 12 flooded provinces, 129 mobile medical teams are providing free services to flood victims, with 27,863 receiving treatment or medication mainly for food infection, including 379 requiring psychological counselling, the Public Health Ministry said.

The provincial hospital in Sukhothai is the only one under water, but is still in service after staff took preventive measures, including piling up barriers. The mobile teams dispatched from this hospital are providing treatment for local residents.

In Phitsanulok, where the floods began in March and remain stagnant in most areas, 1,000 relief kits granted by Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn were distributed to flood refugees.

Residents living beside the Mekong River in Nakhon Phanom, Sakhon Nakhon, Mukdahan, Amnat Charoen and Ubon Ratchathani were advised to brace for sudden swelling of the river and emergency evacuation.

The highway linking Lampang and Chiang Mai was briefly blocked by mudslides until the debris could be removed by road-repair crews.

Six schools in Udon Thani have closed because of a 70-centimetre flash flood triggered by torrential rain throughout Tuesday night, which inundated vast areas and many key roads.
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Thailand’s flood death toll reaches 31
TNA 2011-08-18

BANGKOK, Aug 17 – Thailand's Public Health Ministry reported Wednesday that 31 persons have died and over 27, 000 others have become sick due to the flooding in the country's northern and northeastern provinces.

Thirty-one deaths were reported, two in Chiang Mai, four in Sukhothai, two in Sakon Nakhon, eight in Phrae, three in Nakhon Phanom, seven in Mae Hong Son, two in Roi Et and one each in Udon Thani, Phetchabun and Tak.

One person who has gone missing in the flooding was reported in Mae Hong Son.

Meanwhile, 27,863 residents fell ill during the floods, Public Health Minister Wittaya Buranasiri said, explaining that most patients suffered from athlete’s foot, but no serious epidemics have arisen from flood-related situations.

According to reports from 129 mobile medical units dispatched to 12 flood-hit provinces, where 1,173 flood victims are facing psychological problems.

One hundred five persons feel highly stressed, 189 persons are suffering from depression and counselors suggest that 51 persons are at risk of committing suicide. Meanwhile, another 85 patients are stressed and need to be under close monitoring.

In another related development, Udon Thani Governor Komsan Ekkachai ordered related agencies in the province to brace for possible flash floods in several areas after the overnight incessant heavy rain triggered floods in one zone of Udon Thani municipality. However, the floodwaters have since receded.

In Loei province, the overnight heavy rainfall triggered forest run-off to flood three villages in Na Duang district, according to district chief Narong Jeen-arm.

Floods and torrential waterflow obstructed traffic and affected some 100 homes, 10 fish farming ponds,and around 1,000 rai of farmland.
(MCOT online news)