NATURAL DISASTER
Water to rise for a week or more yet
The Nation 2011-09-08
Chao Phraya forecast to swell by 10-15cm; farmers told to harvest early
Flooding looks set to drag on for weeks in many central provinces as the water level in the Chao Phraya River is expected to swell up by between 10 and 15 centimetres per day until the middle of this month.
"We have to monitor the situation closely in the Chao Phraya basin," Disaster Mitigation Directing Centre director Panu Yamsri said yesterday.
Up to 2,800 cubic metres of water per second flowed past the Chao Phraya Dam yesterday.
The river has already overflowed in some low-lying areas.
Chai Nat Governor Jamlong Phosu said flooding had already ravaged 22,000 rai (3,520 hectares) of farmland in his province.
In Ayutthaya, flood water was nearly 2 metres deep in some areas. In Angthong, farmers were rushing against time to harvest yields from paddy fields before flood waters swept in.
Authorities earlier warned that rice farmers in the Chao Phraya basin would have to bring in their harvest by Saturday or it would be too late.
Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra led a team to visit the flooded province of Chai Nat, and ordered authorities to dredge waterways quickly to push surplus water out of the Central region as soon as possible.
She also recommended that some areas be used for water-retention purposes.
Asked whether repeatedly flooded areas would be turned into water-retention areas and local people evacuated, Yingluck said: "Surveys will be conducted. If any area has to be used for water retention, authorities will find new areas for [evacuees]".
The House of Representatives' ad hoc committee on solutions to flooding and water-resource management yesterday set up five subcommittees to conduct a study on flooding and drought.
The five subcommittees each will take charge in the North, the Northeast, the South, the Central region, and Bangkok.
The ad hoc committee will also talk to representatives from the Royal Irrigation, Water Resources, and Public Works and Town and Country Planning departments today.
According to the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department, flooding is still ravaging 12 provinces, with up to 460,000 people struggling with the high water.
Flood-related deaths have risen to 69.
HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn yesterday granted three 12-seat boats to flood victims in Phitsanulok's Bang Rakam district. Locals there have been suffering from the flooding for months.
Army chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha has instructed soldiers to provide help to flood-hit people.
"Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra ... ordered authorities to dredge waterways quickly to push surplus water out of the Central region as soon as possible."
not this year, surely. It takes months and years to do it. Would it ever happen, at all?
if at the beginning of the september there is already a serious flood situation, what would be in a month or two, further into a rainy season? Last year the floods came only at the second part of october and beginning of november
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Flooding Still Critical in Many Provinces
Tan Network 2011-09-08
A number of provinces are still reeling under severe flooding, owing to gradually rising water levels in major rivers and continuing torrential downpours.
Villagers from three communities east of Nakhon Sawan's Dechatiwong Bridge are still placing sandbags and checking the effectiveness of flood barricades to keep the floodwater at bay for the safety of a thousand homes in the surrounding area, as the water level of the Chao Praya River continues to rise.
Flooding in Bangkratum District in Phitsanulok Province is still wreaking havoc for locals after continued torrential downpours.
Thousands of homes, as well as a famous OTOP banana plantation have been suffering from flooding for a month already.
A thousand rai of rice paddies are also severely damaged.
Meanwhile, the water level of Pa-sak River in Pathchaboon is now overflowing, causing flooding in Lom Sak District.
Some roads are cut-off. Officials have prepared for further flooding by building sand-bag-walls in risk areas.
In Prachin Buri Province, nearly all roads have been flooded for three days, due to the run-off from Kao Yai.
This has led to swelling of the Prachin Buri River, causing flooding in the downtown area.
This area has not received assistance from officials.
Many shop operators have been forced to close down, but a number of vendors in twenty-four-hour markets are still open to serve their customers.
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