Twenty-one provinces hit by floods

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Twenty-one provinces hit by floods
The Nation 2011-08-10

The Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department (DPMD) yesterday said flooding triggered by Tropical Storm NockTen, which has killed 20 people and left one person missing, is continuing to ravage 51 districts in Phrae, Sukhothai, Uttaradit, Phichit, Phitsanulok, Tak, Nakhon Sawan and Ayutthaya provinces, while affecting some 221,000 people.

DPMD chief Wibul Sanguanpong reported that Tropical Storm NockTen had caused floods in 6,809 villages, located in 155 districts in 21 provinces, affecting 1,139,990 people and damaging 619,723 rai of farmlands.

He added that the department has instructed provincial offices and agencies to urgently provide food, water and other aid to flood victims, and to deliver machines, flat boats, and drinking water to the region. Officials will also be dispatched to assess damage and provide assistance, in keeping with the Finance Ministry's regulations.

In Uttaradit's Pichai district, the overflowing Yom River damaged some 40,000 rai of rice fields that were nearing harvest in tambon Tha Mafeuang. About 70 homes were submerged under two metres of water in Ban Thung Sanguan. The tambon has reportedly never flooded before, and the recent flooding was said to have been caused by the diversion of 2,500 cubic metres per second of water from Yom River to Nan River through Khlong Nam Lai to alleviate flooding in Phrae and Sukhothai. Uttaradit Governor Yothin Samutkhiri initially sent officials and 100 relief bags to aid the victims. The damage to Pichai district's farmland has been estimated at Bt22 million.

A 59yearold farmer, On Yaemsuan, tearfully said her 35 rai of rice fields were completely damaged, while she had a September deadline to repay a Bt200,000 loan to grow rice from the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives. She lamented that while she had invested Bt6,800 per rai, the government would only be offering compensation of Bt606 per rai for damage from the floods. She urged new Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and the four Pheu Thai MPs from Uttaradit to help the farmers.

In Amnat Charoen, the previous night of heavy rainfall and runoffs from Nakhon Phanom and Mukdahan caused the Mekong River to rise yesterday, prompting provincial governor Kaenpetch Chuangrangsi to alert Chanuman district officials to measure river levels and prepare for possible floods.