ID :
146488
Mon, 10/18/2010 - 19:38
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http://m.oananews.org//node/146488
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4 dead, one million affected in Nakhon Ratchasima flood
NAKHON RATCHASIMA, Oct 18 -- Four people have drowned and more than one million people are otherwise affected in 21 flood-stricken districts of Nakhon Ratchasima province, while Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva inspected the affected areas to assess damage and relief needed for flood victims.
The four flood hardest-hit districts are the provincial seat, and Non Sung, Pak Chong and Pak Thong Chai districts.
More than 60,000 acres of farmlands have been damaged.
The water level in two dams is critical. Lamtakong Dam is holding 333 million cubic metres of water, exceeding its capacity of 314 million cubic metres by 19 million cubic metres. Dam officials said they will not open sluices but will let the water spill into the Lamtakong River at about 500,000 cubic metres per day.
The Lam Phra Phloeng Dam currently contains 158.7 million cubic metres, exceeding the dam's 110 million cubic metre capacity by 48.7 million cubic metres.
Nakhon Ratchasima's provincial seat was hardest hit by record high flood water. Water from Lamtakong dam has flooded low-lying communities as deep as two metres. Hospitals, schools, government offices, a stadium, a bus station, hotels, housing estate are under water. The provincial electricity authority cut power in three districts.
Nakhon Ratchasima Rajabhat University and Rajamangala University of Technology Isan have closed indefinitely.
Maharat Nakhonratchasima Hospital has been flooded as deep as one metre. The hospital morgue was flooded and staff had to move the bodies to higher ground. Medical staff and patients' families must travel by flat-bottomed boats.
A bus station has been flooded by 1.5 metres of water. Several buses were damaged as drivers failed to move them out in time.
Highways number 290, 201, 2148, and 224 are impassable and only large vehicles can pass highway number 2148.
Trains from Bangkok can run to Nakhon Ratchasima's Pak Chong train station but there is no train service connecting the provincial seat. Train passengers can travel to other northeastern provinces from Nakhon Ratchasima's Huarotfai train station.
Provincial Electricity Authority cut power at ten locations in three districts including the provincial seat, and Pak Thong Chai and Chok Chai district.
Residents living near the Mun River in Chalermprakiart district and Chakkarat district were warned to brace for flooding Monday.
In Tak, head of the disaster response office warned motorists to be careful due to heavy rain. Portions of Mae Sot-Um Phang road were washed out by flooding and damaged. Huaymaipan School was flooded and about 20 metres of concrete wall were destroyed.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Abhisit visited Maharat Nakhonratchasima Hospital which has been hardest hit by the flood Monday afternoon.
The premier said he will gather all means of relief resources and will report the flood situation assessment to the Cabinet on Tuesday before setting up a working group to help the victims. Some regulations will be exempted so that aid will reach them as soon as possible.
Mr Abhisit said the Cabinet will also review the efficiency of the existing flood warning system. (MCOT online news)
The four flood hardest-hit districts are the provincial seat, and Non Sung, Pak Chong and Pak Thong Chai districts.
More than 60,000 acres of farmlands have been damaged.
The water level in two dams is critical. Lamtakong Dam is holding 333 million cubic metres of water, exceeding its capacity of 314 million cubic metres by 19 million cubic metres. Dam officials said they will not open sluices but will let the water spill into the Lamtakong River at about 500,000 cubic metres per day.
The Lam Phra Phloeng Dam currently contains 158.7 million cubic metres, exceeding the dam's 110 million cubic metre capacity by 48.7 million cubic metres.
Nakhon Ratchasima's provincial seat was hardest hit by record high flood water. Water from Lamtakong dam has flooded low-lying communities as deep as two metres. Hospitals, schools, government offices, a stadium, a bus station, hotels, housing estate are under water. The provincial electricity authority cut power in three districts.
Nakhon Ratchasima Rajabhat University and Rajamangala University of Technology Isan have closed indefinitely.
Maharat Nakhonratchasima Hospital has been flooded as deep as one metre. The hospital morgue was flooded and staff had to move the bodies to higher ground. Medical staff and patients' families must travel by flat-bottomed boats.
A bus station has been flooded by 1.5 metres of water. Several buses were damaged as drivers failed to move them out in time.
Highways number 290, 201, 2148, and 224 are impassable and only large vehicles can pass highway number 2148.
Trains from Bangkok can run to Nakhon Ratchasima's Pak Chong train station but there is no train service connecting the provincial seat. Train passengers can travel to other northeastern provinces from Nakhon Ratchasima's Huarotfai train station.
Provincial Electricity Authority cut power at ten locations in three districts including the provincial seat, and Pak Thong Chai and Chok Chai district.
Residents living near the Mun River in Chalermprakiart district and Chakkarat district were warned to brace for flooding Monday.
In Tak, head of the disaster response office warned motorists to be careful due to heavy rain. Portions of Mae Sot-Um Phang road were washed out by flooding and damaged. Huaymaipan School was flooded and about 20 metres of concrete wall were destroyed.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Abhisit visited Maharat Nakhonratchasima Hospital which has been hardest hit by the flood Monday afternoon.
The premier said he will gather all means of relief resources and will report the flood situation assessment to the Cabinet on Tuesday before setting up a working group to help the victims. Some regulations will be exempted so that aid will reach them as soon as possible.
Mr Abhisit said the Cabinet will also review the efficiency of the existing flood warning system. (MCOT online news)
