Thailand Floods of 2018

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Thailand Floods of 2018

Post by PeteC »

Presumptuous on my part once again perhaps. Seeing that the hot season was unusually wet is perhaps a sign of a lighter monsoon ahead, or an ominous sign. We shall see. Pete :cheers:
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Re: Thailand Floods of 2018

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Rainwater filling up 5 Korat dams
Published: 20/05/2018 at 11:54 AM
Online news: https://www.bangkokpost.com/news/genera ... recent_box

NAKHON RATCHASIMA: The water levels at five major dams in this northeastern provinces have continued to rise due to continuous rain, allaying future drought concerns, an official said.

Chidchanok Somprasert, director of the 8th Irrigation Office, said the volume of water at the five dams -- Lam Takhong, Lam Mun Bon, Lam Sae, Lam Phra Phloeng and Lam Plai Mat -- as of May 19 was a total of 527 million cubic metres.

Lam Takhong Dam in Si Khiu district now has about 115 million c/m of water, or 42% of the full capacy of 275 million c/m; Lam Mun Bon Dam in Khon Buri district 74 million c/m of water, or 53% of the 141 million c/m capacity; Lam Sae Dam in Khon Buri district 115 million c/m of water, 42% of the 275 million c/m capacity; Lam Phra Phloeng Dam in Pak Thong Chai district 101 million c/m of water, 66% of the 155 million c/m capacity; and Lam Plai Mat Dam in Soeng Sang district 64 million c/m of water, 66% of the 98 million c/m capacity.

Mr Chidchanok said the overall water situation in the province is better than last year. However, rain intervals between June-August are still of concern.

If the rain continues at this level, the province is unlikely to face a water shortage until early next year, he added.
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Re: Thailand Floods of 2018

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New agency ready for rainy season

https://www.bangkokpost.com/news/genera ... iny-season

Thailand has now entered the rainy season from now until October. For the authorities, it is a challenging period because they need to take care of water management with the utmost care; providing enough water for farmers while simultaneously dealing with torrential downpours and the flooding they cause. Failing to strike the right balance can lead to catastrophes such as the epic flooding of 2011. That year, the authorities had stored too much water in reservoirs for farming and unusually heavy rainfall led to overflows and inundation.

The lesson was painful and costly. Governments and the authorities have tried to prevent a re-occurrence. The latest move to deal with flooding and water management has been the creation of a brand-new water management agency, named the Office of National Water Resources (ONWR). The agency was created in December last year by the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) which used Section 44 to expedite the new agency so it can deal with this year's rainy season. The ONWR takes care of water management planning and cascading policy and visions down through 20 state agencies. Previously, these agencies managed water individually and rarely coordinated.

The ONWR has 100 staff, 80% of them were brought in from the Royal Irrigation Department (RID). The agency has also spent over 60% of its 100 billion baht budget for water management in fiscal year 2018.

Somkiat Prajamwong, secretary-general of the ONWR said the challenge this year is stern yet manageable, thanks to the raft of measures taken by the government. Despite all its staff being highly experienced, now is the first rainy season being dealt with by the ONWR.

"The challenge this year is high. Despite expecting an average amount of rainfall, yet some major reservoirs are already at maximum capacity [of 80%] due to the excessive rain from summer storms in April. Now we have just two months to reduce these large volumes of water in the reservoirs. That too will take time because drainage pipes in some areas are too narrow. But most of all, we need to be very careful and avoid diverting floodwater from one area only for it to cause floods in another," said Somkiat Prajamwong, secretary-general of the ONWR.

The four major dams at maximum capacity are, according to the RID, Kraseaw dam in Suphan Buri, Srinakarin dam in Kanchanaburi, Nong Pla Lai dam in Rayong and Bang Lang dam in Yala.
But Mr Somkiat urged the public not to panic. "Fortunately, the two main dams -- Bhumibol dam in Tak and Sirikit dam in Uttaradit -- are only at 57% and 56% capacity respectively. So, there is still storage available for the rainy season," he said.

Mr Somkiet said the key to water management is preparation and planning. :lach: :lach:

In 2016, the authority introduced a water quota for harvesting. For example, in Phitsnulok's Thung Bang Rakam, farmers were told to harvest in July with the RID providing 550 million cubic metres of water to 360,000 rai of rice paddies. In the old days, farmers across the country harvested when the rain came and RID provided water when farmers demanded it. Now, harvesting across the country will be regulated by the RID.

The authority has also created natural flood retention areas to cope with massive deluges. Twelve large paddies -- 1.5 million rai, in Phitsanulok, Ayutthaya and Pathum Thani province -- will be kept in reserve until the end of harvesting in August. The owners of these paddies will receive compensation for lost farming opportunities.

Next year, the construction of 50 projects will start under the new water management strategy, including a 22 kilometre water-draining passage from Bang Ban to Bang Sai in Ayutthaya province, a water tunnel to divert water from Yuam River to Bhumibol dam, reservoir construction projects in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) as well as water sources development in special economic zones in Tak and Sa Kaew province.

Mr Somkiat said his office is preparing a water management strategy covering 2018-2037 which should be submitted
to the cabinet in October this year.

The Ubon Ratana dam in Khon Kaen
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Re: Thailand Floods of 2018

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The agency has also spent over 60% of its 100 billion baht budget for water management in fiscal year 2018.
Now there's a surprise!
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Re: Thailand Floods of 2018

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Downtown Chiang Mai swamped by flash floods

"Downtown Chiang Mai was hit by flash floods early Thursday following heavy rains overnight.

Several roads were under 20 to 40 centimetres of water, forcing the proprietors of kerbside shops to move their wares to higher levels."............

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/ ... s/30346176
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Re: Thailand Floods of 2018

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Chumphon on alert amid constant heavy rainfall
Breaking News July 10, 2018 20:40 By Tanongsak Supakan
The Nation http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/ ... s/30349783

"With 115 millimetres of rain falling on Chumphon province in 24 hours and continuing, Governor Wibul Rattanapornwong on Tuesday afternoon put all agencies on alert for possible flooding.".....

Photos at link.....
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Re: Thailand Floods of 2018

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Nakhon Phanom villages hit by flash floods as river breaks its banks
Breaking News July 11, 2018 13:20 By The Nation http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/ ... s/30349837

Some 50 houses in three villages in Nakhon Phanom province in Thailand’s Northeast were hit by flash floods on Wednesday morning following two days of heavy rain.

Officials said the accumulated rainfall over the Phu Phan Noi mountains led to a run-off that swelled the Kam River, which broke its banks to flood Moo 7, Moo 1, and Moo 3 villages in Tambon Phiman of Na Kae district.

Officials said about 50 houses were affected by the floods.

Bancha Srichaluang, president of Tambon Phiman Administrative Organisation, said officials have been dispatched to help the affected villagers.

The floodwaters were about 30 to 40 centimetres high.
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Re: Thailand Floods of 2018

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Paddy fields inundated after Roi Et road partly washed away by flash floods
Breaking News July 16, 2018 18:05 By The Nation http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/ ... s/30350187

Photos at link............

The Chi River in Roi Et’s Selaphum district burst its banks and flooded more1,000 rai (160 hectares) of paddy fields on Monday morning.

Following days of heavy rains, the swollen Chi poured over its banks to wash away several parts of the Ban Tha Thang Kwian-Tha Yiam road in Tambon Wang Luang.

The road had been constructed on one of the river’s banks to double as a flood levee.

After parts of the road were washed away, water gushed into paddy fields in Tambon Na Saeng, Tambon Wang Luang, Tambon Lao Noi, Tambon Bueng Klua, Tambon Phu Ngern Khoa and Tambon Na Ngam.

Deputy Roi Et governor Chayan Sirimas rushed to lead officials in surveying the damage, with a view to providing help to affected villagers. He instructed officials to be on standby in case the flooding worsened.
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Re: Thailand Floods of 2018

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Roi Et rushes to plug flood barrier
Around Thailand July 19, 2018 14:50
By Thawatchai Krittiyaworakul
The Nation

Full story and photos at link............

Failed attempts to plug the breached 25-metre section of flood barrier in Tambon Wang Luang of Roi Et's Selaphum district, which allowed water to submerge 15,000 rai of rice fields in seven sub-districts, had prompted the authorities to adjust the action plan, said district chief Suraporn Maicharoen................

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/ ... s/30350396
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Re: Thailand Floods of 2018

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Tropical storm lashes upper Northeast
Mekong River levels rise to critical
Published: 20/07/2018 at 04:00 AM
Newspaper section: News https://www.bangkokpost.com/news/genera ... -northeast

The upper Northeastern provinces are being hit by a tropical storm centred in Vietnam raising the water level in the Mekong River to a critical point.

The provinces of Nakhon Phanom and Mukdahan are bearing the brunt of the tropical storm Son-Tinh which landed in Vietnam and was expected to downgrade to a depression as it moved into the upper Northeast of Thailand Thursday. As a result, heavy rains and flood warnings have been forecast for most of the country.

The provinces are on the bank of the river, which acts as an international borderline. Adding to the problem is the pumping of excess water into the river from farms and towns via feeder canals such as Lam Nam Songkram and Lam Nam Kam. This has caused the water level in the river to rise to a dangerous level, according to the local weather office.

Residents fear that once the river is unable to absorb water, it would lead to flooding in some areas.

The weather bureau in Nakhon Phanom announced Thursday that the river has risen to nine metres, which is about five metres above the critical point.

The surging water level has already slowed water diversions through rivers and canals and about 1,000 rai of farmland in the province is already underwater.

Niwat Jiawiriyaboonya, Nakhon Phanom municipal mayor, said more water pumps were being deployed in the 10 flood-prone areas to speed up water drainage from the river as heavy downpours have pounded the region for the past several days.

Central business districts and heavily-populated communities are being secured with sandbags and residents have been asked to follow weather updates and be prepared to move to higher ground.

The provincial office has also disbursed an emergency fund to combat flooding.

Soldiers and disaster mitigation officials are on standby and are ready to move into flooded areas along with medical teams to assist affected residents. Machinery and boats will also be deployed in case evacuations are needed.

The districts in Nakhon Phanom most vulnerable to flooding are That Phanom, Tha Uthen, Sri Songkhram, Ban Phaeng and Na Kae.

In Kalasin province, located in the lower Northeast, a red alert was issued by the main Huay See Thon reservoir in Muang district after it began to overflow, posing a threat to flooding downstream into residential areas of downtown Kalasin.

The reservoir was forced to open its two spillways.

Kalasin provincial governor Kraisorn Kongchalad said an anti-flood and landslide command centre was opened to work out measures to counter the floods and ease the plight for residents.

He warned residents in low-lying areas to evacuate. Inundation is also affecting 641 families and has damaged 1,264 rai of farmland in Khao Wong, Na Khu, Huai Phung, Tha Khantho, Sahatsakhan and Kuchinarai districts.

In the central plains province of Ayutthaya Thursday, the chamber of commerce assured investors in the five industrial estates in the province that adequate measures were in place to battle floods and prevent the estates from being hit.

Some operators of the estates were looking for assurances from authorities after their factories were submerged in the 2011 flood disaster.
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Re: Thailand Floods of 2018

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"The Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department said flooding was reported in at least 11 districts in five provinces: Trat, Phrae, Phetchabun, Phitsanulok and Prachuap Khiri Khan. Flooding was also reported in Kanchanaburi and Kalasin among others."...............

Rainy weekend looms, Kanchanaburi swamped

https://www.bangkokpost.com/news/genera ... recent_box
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Re: Thailand Floods of 2018

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With all this rain covering much of Thailand but particularly in the north, the decision to get the football boys out of the caves when they did, seems to have been the very best decision.
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Re: Thailand Floods of 2018

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Rising Mekong menaces Nong Khai farms
Around Thailand July 24, 2018 11:53
By The Nation http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/ ... s/30350700

The Mekong River reached its highest level of the year in Nong Khai province on Tuesday and was just 1.96 metres below the embankment.

Swollen in the past three days by runoff from rainfall in Loei upstream, the river has risen to 10.24 metres, triggering measures to prevent farmland being flooded.

All three sluiceways at the Huai Luang water gate were closed to protect 30,000 rai of cropland in Nong Khai and adjacent Udon Thani.

Nong Khai Governor Ronnachai Jitwiset said the situation was under control and 15 water pumps were set out along the Huai Luang Canal, ready to drain water into the river or water-retention areas.
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Re: Thailand Floods of 2018

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Mekong flood alert for northeastern provinces
Published: 29/07/2018 at 04:33 PM
Online news: https://www.bangkokpost.com/news/genera ... -provinces

(Video and photos at link)

Northeastern provinces along the Mekong have been warned of possible flooding due to the rapidly rising water level of the river.

The hydrology office in Nong Khai said on Sunday that heavy rains in northern Thailand and Laos were pouring water into the Mekong River and downstream provinces were poised for flooding.

Provincial authorities said the water is threatening to overflow river banks in Nong Khai, Nakhon Phanom and Ubon Ratchathani.

The regional office of the National Water Resources Board in Ubon Ratchathani pointed to Khong Chiam as a district at critical risk of the river bursting its banks. Residents living along the Mekong in Khong Chiam are urged to move to higher ground, it added.

The Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department on Sunday ordered officials to prepare to help people affected by floods in the northern, northeastern and central regions through Tuesday.

The Meteorological Department forecast storms in provinces along the Mekong from Nong Khai to Ubon Ratchathani, as well as Si Sa Ket and Surin, at least until Monday.

Inland provinces in the northeastern region were also at risk of flooding.

Rain in Sakon Nakhon since Saturday caused floods in some villages in Phon Na Kaeo district on Sunday. Ban Na Tong Noi was paticularly hard hit with floodwater as high as one metre.

Red flags were put up in Muang district on Sunday warning people of the possible overflow of Nong Harn reservoir.

The city was severely damaged by floods in July last year.
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Re: Thailand Floods of 2018

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This is now serious. Full story and photos at link. Pete :cheers:

Rising Mekong triggers worries of more devastation
national July 31, 2018 01:00 By The Nation

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/ ... l/30351081

The Bangkok Post report: https://www.bangkokpost.com/news/genera ... recent_box
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