ID :
148533
Tue, 11/02/2010 - 21:54
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http://m.oananews.org//node/148533
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Two dead, 2 missing in southern floods; 4 southern provinces declare disaster zones
SONGKHLA, Nov 2 – At least two persons were killed and two others are missing after severe floods hit Thailand’s southern provinces.
Pattani, Phatthalung, Songkhla and Surat Thani provinces declared major disaster zones as rain continues and floodwaters continue to rise.
One person in Songkhla’s Tha Kian community died in a flood-related electrocution and another died in Pattani, where two persons, including a child swept away by the torrent, are missing.
In Songkha’s Hat Yai, flood water is some two metres deep in low-lying areas. Roads leading to Hat Yai have been cut, with only large boats and four-wheel drive vehicles able to reach the some areas.
Numbers of local residents called the disaster services hotline 1784 for the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation seeking help. Some have been stranded in their homes and some asked for instant food products. Officials sent flat-bottomed boats to help them, but help and coordination is difficult and slow as the telephone system has been disrupted.
Deputy Interior Minister Thavorn Senneam inspected the rising waters in Hat Yai municipality and surrounding areas by helicopter and will report to Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, scheduled to visit the city to help flood victims Tuesday.
The public health ministry assessed the flood in 33 provinces, the most critical being Songkhla where three medical centres, Hat Yai, Sadao and Na Thawi Hospitals were flooded and temporarily closed outpatient services, and Na Thawi carried medical services into its district office.
Public Health Minister Jurin Laksanavisit said the the ministry set up ‘war rooms’ at Hat Yai hospital, while health workers provide treatment to villagers by mobile medical unit and makeshift offices outside flooded areas.
Hat Yai Hopital has 559 inpatients including 70 cases in critical condition and on respirator. Eight patients were airlifted to Songklanagarind Hospital. Songklanagarind Hospital and Phatthalung Hospital will supply submerged Hat Yai Hospital with food, patients’ clothes and medical equipment. The Public Health Ministry sent 57,500 sets of medicine to five southern
provinces.
Meanwhile, Phatthalung has declared 11 districts of the province as disaster zones after overnight heavy rainfall. It is estimated that nearly 100,000 residents affected by floods.
Some 70,000 rai (nearly 28,000 acres) of rice crops were submerged and a number of orchards and rubber plantations were damaged by the tropical depression Monday night as well.
Moreover, flash floods from Tamot and Kong Ra districts rapidly hit Chaison district on Tuesday, forcing residents to move to stay at relief shelters on roads.
Civil servants and soldiers braced for possible inundation in the provinces, especially municipal schools and hospitals. Sandbags walls were used to prevent floodwaters entering Phatthalung Hospital. Workers also installed a water pump and moved important medical equipment and supplies to higher ground.
Surat Thani designated its 19 districts as disaster zones affected by floods. A number of roads, bridges have been severe damaged and cut off. Currently, officials involving in disaster mitigation were trying to help and evacuate residents in at-risk areas to safe places because the water from the mountain range continues flowing into the areas.
Chumphon governor Pinit Chareonpanich met with 1,000 sub-district and village chiefs and local government officials to map out measures in preparation for possible flash floods, large-scale forest run-off and landslides due to heavy rain from the storm.
The meeting followed the Meteorological Department’s warning for provincial disaster-related agencies to prepare for the impacts from the tropical storm currently covering the South of Thailand.
In Narathiwat province, the inundation affected 12 districts owing to incessant rain, 54 sub-districts and 42,400 people.
More than 3,200 rai (about 1,300 acres) of rice crops, rubber trees and fruit orchards were damaged, as well as 25 bridges.
Public Health Ministry mobile medical units treated 294,496 patients in flood-stricken areas from October 20 to November 1, with 110, 794 experiencing athlete’s foot. Health workers distributed 873,700 sets of medicine to flooded provinces.
Meanwhile, the Education Ministry reported 1,377 schools damaged by floods and 592 schools postponed opening the new semester. Damage amounted to Bt180 million (US$6 million).
In Songkhla where the latest flooding occurred, 17 schools remain closed due to flooding. (MCOT online news)
Pattani, Phatthalung, Songkhla and Surat Thani provinces declared major disaster zones as rain continues and floodwaters continue to rise.
One person in Songkhla’s Tha Kian community died in a flood-related electrocution and another died in Pattani, where two persons, including a child swept away by the torrent, are missing.
In Songkha’s Hat Yai, flood water is some two metres deep in low-lying areas. Roads leading to Hat Yai have been cut, with only large boats and four-wheel drive vehicles able to reach the some areas.
Numbers of local residents called the disaster services hotline 1784 for the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation seeking help. Some have been stranded in their homes and some asked for instant food products. Officials sent flat-bottomed boats to help them, but help and coordination is difficult and slow as the telephone system has been disrupted.
Deputy Interior Minister Thavorn Senneam inspected the rising waters in Hat Yai municipality and surrounding areas by helicopter and will report to Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, scheduled to visit the city to help flood victims Tuesday.
The public health ministry assessed the flood in 33 provinces, the most critical being Songkhla where three medical centres, Hat Yai, Sadao and Na Thawi Hospitals were flooded and temporarily closed outpatient services, and Na Thawi carried medical services into its district office.
Public Health Minister Jurin Laksanavisit said the the ministry set up ‘war rooms’ at Hat Yai hospital, while health workers provide treatment to villagers by mobile medical unit and makeshift offices outside flooded areas.
Hat Yai Hopital has 559 inpatients including 70 cases in critical condition and on respirator. Eight patients were airlifted to Songklanagarind Hospital. Songklanagarind Hospital and Phatthalung Hospital will supply submerged Hat Yai Hospital with food, patients’ clothes and medical equipment. The Public Health Ministry sent 57,500 sets of medicine to five southern
provinces.
Meanwhile, Phatthalung has declared 11 districts of the province as disaster zones after overnight heavy rainfall. It is estimated that nearly 100,000 residents affected by floods.
Some 70,000 rai (nearly 28,000 acres) of rice crops were submerged and a number of orchards and rubber plantations were damaged by the tropical depression Monday night as well.
Moreover, flash floods from Tamot and Kong Ra districts rapidly hit Chaison district on Tuesday, forcing residents to move to stay at relief shelters on roads.
Civil servants and soldiers braced for possible inundation in the provinces, especially municipal schools and hospitals. Sandbags walls were used to prevent floodwaters entering Phatthalung Hospital. Workers also installed a water pump and moved important medical equipment and supplies to higher ground.
Surat Thani designated its 19 districts as disaster zones affected by floods. A number of roads, bridges have been severe damaged and cut off. Currently, officials involving in disaster mitigation were trying to help and evacuate residents in at-risk areas to safe places because the water from the mountain range continues flowing into the areas.
Chumphon governor Pinit Chareonpanich met with 1,000 sub-district and village chiefs and local government officials to map out measures in preparation for possible flash floods, large-scale forest run-off and landslides due to heavy rain from the storm.
The meeting followed the Meteorological Department’s warning for provincial disaster-related agencies to prepare for the impacts from the tropical storm currently covering the South of Thailand.
In Narathiwat province, the inundation affected 12 districts owing to incessant rain, 54 sub-districts and 42,400 people.
More than 3,200 rai (about 1,300 acres) of rice crops, rubber trees and fruit orchards were damaged, as well as 25 bridges.
Public Health Ministry mobile medical units treated 294,496 patients in flood-stricken areas from October 20 to November 1, with 110, 794 experiencing athlete’s foot. Health workers distributed 873,700 sets of medicine to flooded provinces.
Meanwhile, the Education Ministry reported 1,377 schools damaged by floods and 592 schools postponed opening the new semester. Damage amounted to Bt180 million (US$6 million).
In Songkhla where the latest flooding occurred, 17 schools remain closed due to flooding. (MCOT online news)
