ID :
148082
Sat, 10/30/2010 - 16:21
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/148082
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Evacuation drill in Ubon as water runoff due to arrive
UBON RATCHATHANI, Oct 30 -- Officials in the northeastern province of Ubon Ratchathani bordering Laos and the Mekong River on Saturday afternoon were conducting an evacuation drill for people in risk-prone areas in preparation for water runoff from the Chee and Moon rivers due to arrive in the province next week.
Preparations for the water runoff are underway as Apirak Kosayodhin, an advisor to the prime minister and also Flood Coordination Centre chairman, met with senior provincial officials.
It is projected that about 3,000 people from 1,600 households will be affected by the rising waters from the Chee and Moon rivers which will converge in three northeastern provinces, including Ubon Ratchathani, between November 2-10.
People in Warinchamrap district are expected to be most severely affected during the period as river banks. So far 234 households have been moved to temporary shelters. Mr Apirak presented some of them later in the day with relief supplies.
Acknowledging their hardships due to severe flooding which has hit Thailand for nearly three weeks now, the evacuees are also suffering from cooler weather as temperatures dropped.
The water level of the Moon River dropped by about three centimeters to 7.16 metres early Saturday and posed no problem for some 40 long-tailed boats which competed for a cup presented by Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn.
People lined the banks and cheered wildly for their favourite boat teams as they temporarily forgot their hardships from the severe flooding -- at least for a short period.
Chalit Damrongsak, director-general of Royal Irrigation Department, said after inspecting the water level in the Moon River by helicopter that he was confident running waters in the Moon River during Nov 2-10 would be about 2,800 cubic metres per second, or overflowing the banks at the maximum level of 60 centimetres from the normal level.
He said if his projection proved correct, water would be released into Mekong River, as its water level is now lower than the Moon River. (MCOT online news)
Preparations for the water runoff are underway as Apirak Kosayodhin, an advisor to the prime minister and also Flood Coordination Centre chairman, met with senior provincial officials.
It is projected that about 3,000 people from 1,600 households will be affected by the rising waters from the Chee and Moon rivers which will converge in three northeastern provinces, including Ubon Ratchathani, between November 2-10.
People in Warinchamrap district are expected to be most severely affected during the period as river banks. So far 234 households have been moved to temporary shelters. Mr Apirak presented some of them later in the day with relief supplies.
Acknowledging their hardships due to severe flooding which has hit Thailand for nearly three weeks now, the evacuees are also suffering from cooler weather as temperatures dropped.
The water level of the Moon River dropped by about three centimeters to 7.16 metres early Saturday and posed no problem for some 40 long-tailed boats which competed for a cup presented by Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn.
People lined the banks and cheered wildly for their favourite boat teams as they temporarily forgot their hardships from the severe flooding -- at least for a short period.
Chalit Damrongsak, director-general of Royal Irrigation Department, said after inspecting the water level in the Moon River by helicopter that he was confident running waters in the Moon River during Nov 2-10 would be about 2,800 cubic metres per second, or overflowing the banks at the maximum level of 60 centimetres from the normal level.
He said if his projection proved correct, water would be released into Mekong River, as its water level is now lower than the Moon River. (MCOT online news)
