40,000+ sick from flooding

[landofsmiles]

This rain is causing a lot of grief for people :-(

SURAT THANI: -- Flooding hit the southernprovince of Surat Thani, including the tourist island of Samui, even as Bangkok, the capital, braces for the peak level of the Chao Phraya River next Sunday.

In the southern province of Surat Thani, the Tapi River has risen to 5.21 metres, one metre above the crisis level. The overflowing river has inundated houses in Phrasaeng district, according to the head of the local meteorological center.

Floodwaters are 1-1.5 metres deep and the water level is likely to increase due to continuing rain.

On the tourist island of Samui, downpours in the past few days have caused floods on a portion of the ring roads encircling the island. However, the municipality can drain water from areas near tourist beaches -- Chaweng and Lamai beaches -- so there are no flood problems there.

Local officials are closely watching the situation and have issued warnings of possible landslides in disaster prone areas.

Deputy Bangkok Governor Bannasophit Mekwichai warned that the water level in the Chao Phraya River will reach 1.75 metres at 4.30pm, which will affect people living outside the the municipality's flood walls.

Moreover, she said the Chao Phraya River will peak at 1.90-2 metres on Sunday, so residents should move belongings and electrical plugs and sockets to higher ground.

The Department of Drainage and Sewerage built footbridges in flood-prone areas and sandbag embankments are reinforced to be able to withstand water levels as high as 2.5 metres.

Meanwhile, Permanent Secretary for Public Health Dr. Prat Boonyawongvirot said 50 medical mobile units have provided service to flood-hit areas in 15 provinces for almost two weeks.

The number of patients suffering from water-borne diseases was recorded at 40,218 persons, with athlete's foot, fever, rashes, and insomnia cases holding the first four places.

--TNA 2007-10-22

[landofsmiles]

I wonder how Bangkok fared this afternoon with the rising Chao Phraya river. Still raining here and the forecast is for it to get WORSE Sunday and monday :-(


Two drown, 20,000 homes flooded in Chumphon

CHUMPHON: -- A seven-year-old boy has become Thailand's latest flood victim, have drowned in the flood in the southern Gulf of Thailand province of Chumphon, bringing the current death toll to two persons, while more than 20,000 houses in the province have been affected by the flooding.

The body of the child was found in the provincial seat.

According to the local disaster prevention and mitigation office, eight districts have been hard-hit by one to two metre deep floodwaters, with damages estimated at Bt50 million (about US$1.5 million).

Forest run-off from the Tanaosri mountain range caused flooding in the province.

A portion of highway in Sawi district is under one metre of floodwater, impeding traffic movements, and causing congestion. Roads in the provincial seat are partly covered by 50 cm of floodwater.

Meanwhile, the Department of Drainage and Sewerage of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration warned riverside residents of possible flooding as the Chao Phraya River will peak at 1.92 metres Thurday afternoon due to the high tide.
Affected residents may telephone the call center of the department at 0-2248-5115, in case emergency aid is needed.

--TNA 2007-10-25

[JayBee]

When I read this stuff, I just think how amazing it is that so many of Thailand's cities and towns appear to have been built on flood plains.

What will happen to these cities and their inhabitants, if the predictions for the seas rising due to global warming are true? These places are going to be truly fcuked!!

[landofsmiles]

Bangkok is actually sinking at the rate of 4 inches a year and will really be another Venice in 15 to 20 years time if nothing is done about it.