06.10.09 Flood situation in North, Northeast remains critical
Flooding in several northern and northeastern provinces, Chaiyaphum,
Lampang and Si Sa Ket, remained critical Monday, but the water level in
the Chao Phraya River in central Thailand is not worrisome, according
to government sources.
In the northeastern province of Chaiyaphum, heavy rain has triggered
a third round of flash floods in Chaiyaphum municipality, its worst
flood in 50 years.
Incessant rain caused the flood in the provincial capital district resulting in overflowing reservoirs since last week.
Many roads have been inundated by around one metre deep floodwaters,
causing traffic congestion. Flood-hit schools also suspended their
final examinations and temporarily closed.
In addition, provincial workers are currently unable to drain
floodwaters from the affected areas as water in the Lam Pa Tao Dam and
the provincial seat reached the same level.
Local agencies must build a flood wall to prevent flood waters flowing back into the municipality before pumping the water out.
In another development, Lampang’s Mae Phrik district chief Surapong
Burintrapan said that over 200 homes in three villages were waterlogged
and cut off because floodwaters washed out roads, making them
impassable. The authorities will erect a metal bridge to carry
temporary traffic.
Officials from the provincial electricity authority geared up repairing the electrical system.
Mr Surapong added that local flood relief teams continue to assist the victims in nearby areas hit by flash flood on October 3.
In Si Sa Ket, a stream from the Phanom Dong Rak mountains
overflowed, flooding three communities in the provincial seat,
affecting 100 houses. The water level in the affected areas
continuously increases, causing residents to evacuate their homes and
take shelter in makeshift tents at the roadside.
Theera Wongsamut, minister of agriculture and cooperatives, said
meanwhile that the capital of Bangkok would not be affected by the
flooding, which is not critical though a large volume of floodwater
from the northern part of the country has been flowing into the lower
Chao Phraya River.
He said that the water level in the Chao Phraya River is still low
and that reservoirs in the central region can hold considerably more
water as their present volume of water is around 75 per cent of their
capacity. (TNA) Source: TNA, 06.10.09 http://enews.mcot.net/view.php?id=12149
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