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147272
Sun, 10/24/2010 - 19:10
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Flood recedes in three eastern provinces

BANGKOK, Oct 24 – Floods in three out of 31 flood-hit provinces have receded, according to the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation which reported the latest flood situation from October 10-24 in 31 provinces on Sunday.

The three provinces are the eastern provinces of Rayong, Chantaburi and Trat while flooding continues in 28 provinces, including Phichit, Chainat, Angthong, Ayutthaya, Sakaeo, Nakhon Ratchasima, Prachinburi, Lopburi, Nakhon Sawan, Chaiyabhum, Saraburi, Phetchabun, Nakhon Nayok, Si Sa Ket, Tak, Surin, Buriram, Khon Kaen, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Kamphaeng Phet, Nakhon Pathom, Uthaithani, Singburi, Chiang Mai, Lamphun and Chonburi.

More than 2,400,000 people have been affected and about one million acres of farmland were damaged, the department said.

In Bangkok, the Department of Drainage and Sewerage said the water level in the Chao Phraya River was measured at 1.98 metres at the Pakklongtalad flower market at 07.15 am Sunday, the highest tide this year.

The water flow from the Chao Phraya Dam in Chainat and the Rama VI Dam in Ayutthaya was recorded at 4,468 cubic metres per minute, causing floods in areas outside the flood prevention dikes and affecting about 1,300 households.

At Santichaiprakarn Park at Phra Arthit pier in Bangkok, some water from the Chao Phraya overflowed the sand embankment into the park Sunday morning but the water level has decreased late morning.

In Lop Buri, director of the local irrigation office said the flood situation along the Chainat-Pasak canal has improved after the rain stopped. Water from the canal was released into the Chao Phraya River. Sluices of the Rama VI Dam were opened to release about 200 million cubic out of 400 million cubic metres of forest run-off from nearby areas.

The province installed water pumps to drain flood water in the provincial seat and expected flooding will end within one week and about two weeks in low-lying areas. It will take about one month in low-lying farming areas, he said.

Lopburi governor Chatchai Promlert said the authorities have been working to help people in flood-stricken areas of about 46,000 acres. He was concerned about water borne diseases at the moment, particularly regarding diarrhea. (MCOT online news)

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