The Floods of 2012
The Floods of 2012
Perhaps a bit presumptuous on my part, but since they've now issued the first News cartoon I thought best to prepare a thread. I'm pretty confident we'll be able to get 15-20 pages out of this one over the coming months. Pete
Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. Source
Re: The Floods of 2012
Estate accused of idling on flood prevention
Published: 22/05/2012 at 01:38 AM
Newspaper section: News
http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/2 ... prevention
AYUTTHAYA : A Japanese firm has expressed concern that managers of Saha Rattana Nakorn Industrial Estate have done nothing to protect the area from flooding, which is causing many companies to consider moving their operations.
The administrator of the complex in Nakhon Luang district has taken no action to prevent future floods, solve ongoing problems and boost the confidence of mainly foreign manufacturers whose factories were seriously damaged by water last year, said Yukimasa Ogasawara, managing director of EPE (Thailand) Co Ltd.
EPE produces electronic components and is still only operating at 30% capacity after last year's floods.
Saha Rattana Nakorn Industrial Estate plans to build a 7km dyke, but it has failed to finance the 660 million baht project as it is in debt rehabilitation and is changing administrators, according to deputy permanent secretary for industry Nattapon Nattasomboon.
The industrial estate's owner, Saha Rattana Nakorn Co, is a non-performing debtor
Its business rehabilitation administrator SCMB Co decided to withdraw the rehabilitation process on April 20, which stalled the dyke construction.
Mr Ogasawara has called on Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to take heed of Saha Rattana Nakorn Industrial Estate and its delayed plan to protect the complex against flood.
"Don't think it is just a small private industrial estate," said Mr Ogasawara. "No one can take the risk of investing in Thailand unless responsibility is taken to ensure investors their assets will not be damaged by flood again."
Published: 22/05/2012 at 01:38 AM
Newspaper section: News
http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/2 ... prevention
AYUTTHAYA : A Japanese firm has expressed concern that managers of Saha Rattana Nakorn Industrial Estate have done nothing to protect the area from flooding, which is causing many companies to consider moving their operations.
The administrator of the complex in Nakhon Luang district has taken no action to prevent future floods, solve ongoing problems and boost the confidence of mainly foreign manufacturers whose factories were seriously damaged by water last year, said Yukimasa Ogasawara, managing director of EPE (Thailand) Co Ltd.
EPE produces electronic components and is still only operating at 30% capacity after last year's floods.
Saha Rattana Nakorn Industrial Estate plans to build a 7km dyke, but it has failed to finance the 660 million baht project as it is in debt rehabilitation and is changing administrators, according to deputy permanent secretary for industry Nattapon Nattasomboon.
The industrial estate's owner, Saha Rattana Nakorn Co, is a non-performing debtor
Its business rehabilitation administrator SCMB Co decided to withdraw the rehabilitation process on April 20, which stalled the dyke construction.
Mr Ogasawara has called on Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to take heed of Saha Rattana Nakorn Industrial Estate and its delayed plan to protect the complex against flood.
"Don't think it is just a small private industrial estate," said Mr Ogasawara. "No one can take the risk of investing in Thailand unless responsibility is taken to ensure investors their assets will not be damaged by flood again."
Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. Source
Re: The Floods of 2012
There are and have been many stories like the below in the news the last month or so. Rushed environmental studies, intimidation (sometimes armed) and what seems like panic mode to do something perhaps to be able to say "we did something..." regardless if the plan is sound or not. Of course as usual the intimidation is instituted by the power families in line to get the lucrative construction contracts. 
Pete
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/nationa ... 82443.html
Pete http://www.nationmultimedia.com/nationa ... 82443.html
Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. Source
Re: The Floods of 2012
- c1_296745_120606015727.jpg (40.22 KiB) Viewed 2006 times
Heavy rains cut lifelines
Landslides and flash floods wreak havoc
http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/2 ... -lifelines
Published: 6/06/2012 at 01:57 AM
Newspaper section: News
Landslides and flash floods caused by prolonged heavy rain have wreaked havoc in many parts of Chumphon, Ranong and Mae Hong Son provinces.
The storms, which began on Sunday night and subsided yesterday morning, flooded roads and homes, badly affecting thousands of people living in the three provinces.
In Chumphon, at least 500 families in two villages of tambon Banna in Muang district and a village in Hin Kaew of Tha Sae district were hit by flash floods with water levels reaching up to 2m in some areas.
Many roads were closed or impassable yesterday due to high water levels. A 1km stretch of the Asian Highway route 41 near Pathomporn intersection in Muang district was under about 20-80cm of water, making it impossible for small vehicles to pass.
Somchai Im-yu, director of the Hydrology and Water Management Centre for the Irrigation Department's Southern Region, said prolonged rain since Sunday night had triggered flash floods in several areas of the province.
Mr Somchai said the Chumphon canal had burst its banks and had flooded several low-lying areas.
Ranong's Kra Buri district was declared the hardest-hit area.
Some areas in Nam Jued municipality in Kra Buri district are under 50cm-1m of flood water. Hundreds of families in the municipality have also been hit.
A 500m-long stretch of the Petchkasem Highway linking Ranong with Chumphon near Kra Buri market was closed to all traffic yesterday.
Ranong governor Peerasak Hinmuangkao said he had told emergency services to evacuate people stranded in flood-prone homes in Kra Buri.
He has also ordered the urgent evacuation of people in flood-prone areas in Kapoe, Kra Buri and La-un districts.
In Mae Hong Son, heavy rains on Monday night triggered landslides, blocking access to Pakalo village in tambon Pang Moo of Muang district.
It took local authorities several hours yesterday to clear a path to the village.
Mae Hong Son governor Naruemol Palawat said she has warned people in Pai, Pang Ma Pha and Muang districts to expect further landslides and water run-off during the rainy season.
The Meteorological Department yesterday warned people in the North and East and in western parts of the South to prepare for heavy rain and possible flooding today and over the next few days.
The department said a low pressure front is now covering the North. The southwest monsoon over the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea will probably cause heavy downpours in these areas.
People living near hillsides and waterways in Uttaradit, Sukhothai, Phetchabun, Chanthaburi, Trat, Chumphon, Ranong and Phangnga should prepare for heavy rain and flash floods, the department said.
Choppy seas are expected in upper parts of the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea. All shipping should proceed with caution and small boats should stay in port today and the next few days, the department warned.
The cabinet yesterday earmarked 3.8 billion baht to build flood walls around six industrial estates in Ayutthaya and Pathum Thani which were badly hit in last year's flood crisis.
The work will be overseen by the Water Resources Management and Flood Control Committee chaired by Science and Technology Minister Plodprasop Suraswadi.
Construction of the walls will take about two months, he said.
Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. Source
Re: The Floods of 2012
Floodwaters rise in Pichit
June 15, 2012 5:31 pm
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakin ... 84252.html
The Yom River is rising in the northern province of Phichit, forcing farmers to harvest their not yet fully mature rice yield to prevent losses.
Flooding in the Yom River basin in Phichit's Sam Ngam district remains critical and has spread more widely to cover lowlying areas due to further heavy rain and continued northern run-off flowing downstream from Phisanulok and Sukhothai.
The rising Yom River forced farmers to harvest offseason rice for fear of losses if the flood worsens.
June 15, 2012 5:31 pm
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakin ... 84252.html
The Yom River is rising in the northern province of Phichit, forcing farmers to harvest their not yet fully mature rice yield to prevent losses.
Flooding in the Yom River basin in Phichit's Sam Ngam district remains critical and has spread more widely to cover lowlying areas due to further heavy rain and continued northern run-off flowing downstream from Phisanulok and Sukhothai.
The rising Yom River forced farmers to harvest offseason rice for fear of losses if the flood worsens.
Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. Source
Re: The Floods of 2012
On deadline, anti-flood projects lag
Published: 15/06/2012 at 01:46 AM
Newspaper section: News
http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/2 ... line-looms
Flood prevention work in provinces which take water run-off from the North is between 60% and 70% complete, as project deadlines draw near.
Most progress has been made in building dykes, dredging canals and ponds and preparing flood catchment areas in the lower northern and central provinces, located midway and downstream along the water routes leading to the Gulf of Thailand.
However, projects in the northern provinces, which are on the "front line" in terms of dealing with the run-off, are lagging behind schedule, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said after inspecting work in the region.
"I have reminded agencies overseeing these upstream areas that they must finish every project this month," Ms Yingluck told reporters yesterday, following the end of her four-day visit to flood-prone provinces.
Other regions have later deadlines. Lower northern provinces must finish their work by next month, while projects in the Central Plains have their deadline in August, the premier said.
During her visit she met provincial governors, who promised they will speed up work to meet the deadlines.
However, flash floods, triggered by heavy rain earlier this month, have already hit 15 provinces _ including Phitsanulok, Sukhothai and many provinces in the South.
Sukhothai governor Chakkarin Plianwong has repeated his call to build the Kaeng Sua Ten dam on the Yom River in Phrae as a long-term solution to flooding in the province.
In his view it would offset the adverse impacts, which include inundation of the area's golden teak forests.
However, the idea has drawn opposition even among the Sukhothai residents whom the dam is meant to protect.
Samruai Songsamran, assistant village head in tambon Pak Phra in Muang district, which is struggling with floods, has suggested widening a section of the Yom River in the province and reinforcing river dykes instead of building the dam.
Meanwhile, about 200 residents from the Chat Phailin housing estate in Pathum Thani's Lat Lum Kaeo district rallied at the provincial hall yesterday, calling on officials to provide bigger flood compensation packages.
"I've received only 3,000 baht," protester Suchat Phetphonsirikun said.
He said the payment was too low, as his house was severely damaged by last year's flooding.
The protest prompted Lat Lum Kaeo district chief Chaloemphon Mangkhang to allow villagers to re-submit requests for compensation and set up a panel that will resurvey all damage done within the next 10 days.
In Pathum Thani, residents of Lat Lum Kaeo, Lum Luk Ka and Sam Khok districts have protested over compensation packages for flood victims.
Protesters say the packages give different amounts of compensation for similar amounts of damage.
They suspect officials are committing irregularities by granting compensation money to their relatives and associates.
Published: 15/06/2012 at 01:46 AM
Newspaper section: News
http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/2 ... line-looms
Flood prevention work in provinces which take water run-off from the North is between 60% and 70% complete, as project deadlines draw near.
Most progress has been made in building dykes, dredging canals and ponds and preparing flood catchment areas in the lower northern and central provinces, located midway and downstream along the water routes leading to the Gulf of Thailand.
However, projects in the northern provinces, which are on the "front line" in terms of dealing with the run-off, are lagging behind schedule, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said after inspecting work in the region.
"I have reminded agencies overseeing these upstream areas that they must finish every project this month," Ms Yingluck told reporters yesterday, following the end of her four-day visit to flood-prone provinces.
Other regions have later deadlines. Lower northern provinces must finish their work by next month, while projects in the Central Plains have their deadline in August, the premier said.
During her visit she met provincial governors, who promised they will speed up work to meet the deadlines.
However, flash floods, triggered by heavy rain earlier this month, have already hit 15 provinces _ including Phitsanulok, Sukhothai and many provinces in the South.
Sukhothai governor Chakkarin Plianwong has repeated his call to build the Kaeng Sua Ten dam on the Yom River in Phrae as a long-term solution to flooding in the province.
In his view it would offset the adverse impacts, which include inundation of the area's golden teak forests.
However, the idea has drawn opposition even among the Sukhothai residents whom the dam is meant to protect.
Samruai Songsamran, assistant village head in tambon Pak Phra in Muang district, which is struggling with floods, has suggested widening a section of the Yom River in the province and reinforcing river dykes instead of building the dam.
Meanwhile, about 200 residents from the Chat Phailin housing estate in Pathum Thani's Lat Lum Kaeo district rallied at the provincial hall yesterday, calling on officials to provide bigger flood compensation packages.
"I've received only 3,000 baht," protester Suchat Phetphonsirikun said.
He said the payment was too low, as his house was severely damaged by last year's flooding.
The protest prompted Lat Lum Kaeo district chief Chaloemphon Mangkhang to allow villagers to re-submit requests for compensation and set up a panel that will resurvey all damage done within the next 10 days.
In Pathum Thani, residents of Lat Lum Kaeo, Lum Luk Ka and Sam Khok districts have protested over compensation packages for flood victims.
Protesters say the packages give different amounts of compensation for similar amounts of damage.
They suspect officials are committing irregularities by granting compensation money to their relatives and associates.
Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. Source
Re: The Floods of 2012
Dams have enough capacity to stop inundation this year
Published: 14/06/2012 at 01:48 AM
Newspaper section: News
http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/2 ... -this-year
The Royal Irrigation Department says that 10 dams along the Chao Phraya River have more than enough capacity to prevent floods in downstream areas this year.
They still have room to hold up to another 14 billion cubic meters of water in the upcoming rainy season.
Thongplew Kongjun, director of the department's Office of Water Management and Hydrology, said the water storage levels in the Bhumibol dam in Tak and the Sirikit dam in Uttaradit are 8% and 6% below the levels last year respectively.
This means the two giant dams still have the capacity to retain another 12 billion cu m of water in the rainy season while the eight other dams will be able to hold up to 2 billion cu m.
"We are confident with this storage capacity. At least it will help us control the volume of water flowing to the Central Plains region," Mr Thongplew told a seminar held to mark the 110th anniversary of the department.
He said the department has also conducted a survey of 33 dams and found the average water storage capacity is 53% compared with 56% last year.
He said the flooding taking place in some parts of the country was not caused by river overflow but rather flash floods triggered by heavy monsoon rains.
The Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry has also focused on water management to prevent flooding.
It has prepared 2.14 million rai of land to retain up to 5.1 billion cu m of water. The ministry will drain water into paddy fields after the rice harvesting season in September, he said.
The cabinet has earmarked a budget of more than 11 billion baht budget to improve water drainage systems in more than 2,220 projects.
About 76% are already completed, he said.
Meanwhile, Meedhi Mahayosanand of the Thai Meteorological Department said there is only a small chance of unusually high rainfall this year because of the El Nino weather phenomenon.
"Many international weather forecast agencies have similar predictions that Thailand will have less rainfall for this year, especially between August to October due to lower sea temperatures.
"When the sea is cooler, it means there will be less moisture in the air, and so less rain," he said.
Published: 14/06/2012 at 01:48 AM
Newspaper section: News
http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/2 ... -this-year
The Royal Irrigation Department says that 10 dams along the Chao Phraya River have more than enough capacity to prevent floods in downstream areas this year.
They still have room to hold up to another 14 billion cubic meters of water in the upcoming rainy season.
Thongplew Kongjun, director of the department's Office of Water Management and Hydrology, said the water storage levels in the Bhumibol dam in Tak and the Sirikit dam in Uttaradit are 8% and 6% below the levels last year respectively.
This means the two giant dams still have the capacity to retain another 12 billion cu m of water in the rainy season while the eight other dams will be able to hold up to 2 billion cu m.
"We are confident with this storage capacity. At least it will help us control the volume of water flowing to the Central Plains region," Mr Thongplew told a seminar held to mark the 110th anniversary of the department.
He said the department has also conducted a survey of 33 dams and found the average water storage capacity is 53% compared with 56% last year.
He said the flooding taking place in some parts of the country was not caused by river overflow but rather flash floods triggered by heavy monsoon rains.
The Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry has also focused on water management to prevent flooding.
It has prepared 2.14 million rai of land to retain up to 5.1 billion cu m of water. The ministry will drain water into paddy fields after the rice harvesting season in September, he said.
The cabinet has earmarked a budget of more than 11 billion baht budget to improve water drainage systems in more than 2,220 projects.
About 76% are already completed, he said.
Meanwhile, Meedhi Mahayosanand of the Thai Meteorological Department said there is only a small chance of unusually high rainfall this year because of the El Nino weather phenomenon.
"Many international weather forecast agencies have similar predictions that Thailand will have less rainfall for this year, especially between August to October due to lower sea temperatures.
"When the sea is cooler, it means there will be less moisture in the air, and so less rain," he said.
Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. Source
Re: The Floods of 2012
Flood crisis this year? We'll know by End-July
Anapat Deechuay
The Nation June 15, 2012 1:00 am
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/nationa ... 84208.html
Subcommittee chairman Royol Jitdon said yesterday that by the end of July relevant agencies would be able to determine the amount of water and rainfall for this wet season.
"I am most worried about the Pasak Jolasid Dam," he said. "Management of this dam is complicated."
Located in Lop Buri, the Pasak Jolasid Dam can hold up to 780 million cubic metres of water. For some years, though, the volume of water at this dam has been 122 per cent of its total capacity.
"We can't keep the water level in this dam too low either, otherwise the country won't have adequate water for the farming sector during the dry season next year," Royol pointed out.
He was speaking during a working trip to various provinces alongside Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.
Last year, the worst floods in several decades hit Thailand hard, claiming hundreds of lives and causing massive economic damage.
Yingluck had travelled to many upstream, midstream and downstream provinces this week in a bid to follow up on the flood-prevention projects that her government launched in the wake of last year's severe inundation.
Royol said he was also worried about the Sirikit Dam because the volume of water in the dam had risen significantly.
"During the past two days, it discharged up to 32 million cubic metres of water per day," the water expert said. "I have asked the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand to lower the amount of discharged water to 17 million cubic metres per day."
He said if the volume of water discharged wasn't lowered, the Yom River could overflow and cause flooding.
As of yesterday, inundation had hit many provinces including Sukhothai.
Speaking in his capacity as the chief of the Water and Flood Management Committee, Science Minister Plodprasob Surassawadee said the water-management system for the Yom River basin had already been laid down.
"We will have real-time information. Early warnings can be issued one week in advance," he said.
He reckoned that in areas where many key rivers met, management would be quite difficult.
"We will try to achieve single-command management," Plodprasop promised.
As of now, Royol estimated that the rainfall would be lower this year when compared to 2011.
"This year, the rainfall should be at around 1,500mm," he said.
Deputy Transport Minister Chatchart Sithipan said his ministry was making preparations to protect the key area stretching from Bangkok to the Pasak Jolasid Dam around the Chao Phraya River from flooding.
"We will also do our best to protect the industrial estates in this area," he said. Last year, as many as seven industrial estates were submerged by raging flood water.
Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Yongyuth Wichaidit said provincial governors' performance in regards to the PMOC Flood Recovery project would count when he decided on their rotations.
Anapat Deechuay
The Nation June 15, 2012 1:00 am
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/nationa ... 84208.html
Subcommittee chairman Royol Jitdon said yesterday that by the end of July relevant agencies would be able to determine the amount of water and rainfall for this wet season.
"I am most worried about the Pasak Jolasid Dam," he said. "Management of this dam is complicated."
Located in Lop Buri, the Pasak Jolasid Dam can hold up to 780 million cubic metres of water. For some years, though, the volume of water at this dam has been 122 per cent of its total capacity.
"We can't keep the water level in this dam too low either, otherwise the country won't have adequate water for the farming sector during the dry season next year," Royol pointed out.
He was speaking during a working trip to various provinces alongside Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.
Last year, the worst floods in several decades hit Thailand hard, claiming hundreds of lives and causing massive economic damage.
Yingluck had travelled to many upstream, midstream and downstream provinces this week in a bid to follow up on the flood-prevention projects that her government launched in the wake of last year's severe inundation.
Royol said he was also worried about the Sirikit Dam because the volume of water in the dam had risen significantly.
"During the past two days, it discharged up to 32 million cubic metres of water per day," the water expert said. "I have asked the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand to lower the amount of discharged water to 17 million cubic metres per day."
He said if the volume of water discharged wasn't lowered, the Yom River could overflow and cause flooding.
As of yesterday, inundation had hit many provinces including Sukhothai.
Speaking in his capacity as the chief of the Water and Flood Management Committee, Science Minister Plodprasob Surassawadee said the water-management system for the Yom River basin had already been laid down.
"We will have real-time information. Early warnings can be issued one week in advance," he said.
He reckoned that in areas where many key rivers met, management would be quite difficult.
"We will try to achieve single-command management," Plodprasop promised.
As of now, Royol estimated that the rainfall would be lower this year when compared to 2011.
"This year, the rainfall should be at around 1,500mm," he said.
Deputy Transport Minister Chatchart Sithipan said his ministry was making preparations to protect the key area stretching from Bangkok to the Pasak Jolasid Dam around the Chao Phraya River from flooding.
"We will also do our best to protect the industrial estates in this area," he said. Last year, as many as seven industrial estates were submerged by raging flood water.
Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Yongyuth Wichaidit said provincial governors' performance in regards to the PMOC Flood Recovery project would count when he decided on their rotations.
Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. Source
Re: The Floods of 2012
Ranong hill to be checked for cracks
THE NATION June 21, 2012 1:00 am
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/nationa ... 84596.html
The Mineral Resources Department will examine a limestone hill in Ranong after it cracked and sent nine big rocks hurtling down.
"These rocks must have weighed several tonnes each," Surin Sinkan said, adding that one of the rocks stopped just 200 metres from a house. He is the village chief of |Moo 2, Ban Kork Chang in La-un district.
"It could have brought the entire house down," Surin said.
Pipat Prompat, who owns the house, said he heard rocks hitting trees and decided to flee on a motorcycle.
"When I returned, I found so many trees uprooted," he said. "I am very scared now and don't know when more of these rocks will come rolling down the hill again."
Surin said initial inspection revealed that the limestone hill, called Khao Ta Thong or Khao Look Klang, was cracked in several spots.
"We have already marked the cracks with red flags to warn the locals.
"We have also reported this to relevant authorities so that further action can be taken," he explained.
He said the rocks had rolled down the hill after several days of rains.
A source said the Mineral Resources Department was preparing to dispatch officials to examine the structure of the hill before issuing a warning.
"The department plans to survey Ranong again after landslides and mudslides recently in areas beyond those declared risky," the source said. The last survey was conducted in 2007.
SEVERAL PROVINCES HIT HARD
Now that the rainy season has started, several provinces have been struck by natural disasters.
In Surat Thani's Phunphin district, the homes of more than 1,000 families were flooded, with the water well over a metre deep in some areas. HRH Princess Chulabhorn Valayalaksana sent a representative yesterday to hand out 500 sets of relief items to the victims.
In Nakhon Phanom, raging torrents in the Mekong River partially broke the bank, affecting the owner of a nearby house.
"The torrents took away a large chunk of the bank. Fortunately, the pillars of my house were standing firm, otherwise my entire family would have been killed," Suriya Huangharaj, 65, said.
Local officials have tried to help Suriya's family by building a sandbag embankment along the damaged stretch of the bank.
In Sukhothai, farmers started harvesting their rice crop.
"The crops are not yet ready, but we have to harvest it now before the entire yield is flooded," Boonlert Meechai, 50, said.
In a related development, First Army Region chief Lt-General Udomdej Seetabut said soldiers under his unit had already dredged 98 canals in Bangkok to help prevent floods this year.
THE NATION June 21, 2012 1:00 am
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/nationa ... 84596.html
The Mineral Resources Department will examine a limestone hill in Ranong after it cracked and sent nine big rocks hurtling down.
"These rocks must have weighed several tonnes each," Surin Sinkan said, adding that one of the rocks stopped just 200 metres from a house. He is the village chief of |Moo 2, Ban Kork Chang in La-un district.
"It could have brought the entire house down," Surin said.
Pipat Prompat, who owns the house, said he heard rocks hitting trees and decided to flee on a motorcycle.
"When I returned, I found so many trees uprooted," he said. "I am very scared now and don't know when more of these rocks will come rolling down the hill again."
Surin said initial inspection revealed that the limestone hill, called Khao Ta Thong or Khao Look Klang, was cracked in several spots.
"We have already marked the cracks with red flags to warn the locals.
"We have also reported this to relevant authorities so that further action can be taken," he explained.
He said the rocks had rolled down the hill after several days of rains.
A source said the Mineral Resources Department was preparing to dispatch officials to examine the structure of the hill before issuing a warning.
"The department plans to survey Ranong again after landslides and mudslides recently in areas beyond those declared risky," the source said. The last survey was conducted in 2007.
SEVERAL PROVINCES HIT HARD
Now that the rainy season has started, several provinces have been struck by natural disasters.
In Surat Thani's Phunphin district, the homes of more than 1,000 families were flooded, with the water well over a metre deep in some areas. HRH Princess Chulabhorn Valayalaksana sent a representative yesterday to hand out 500 sets of relief items to the victims.
In Nakhon Phanom, raging torrents in the Mekong River partially broke the bank, affecting the owner of a nearby house.
"The torrents took away a large chunk of the bank. Fortunately, the pillars of my house were standing firm, otherwise my entire family would have been killed," Suriya Huangharaj, 65, said.
Local officials have tried to help Suriya's family by building a sandbag embankment along the damaged stretch of the bank.
In Sukhothai, farmers started harvesting their rice crop.
"The crops are not yet ready, but we have to harvest it now before the entire yield is flooded," Boonlert Meechai, 50, said.
In a related development, First Army Region chief Lt-General Udomdej Seetabut said soldiers under his unit had already dredged 98 canals in Bangkok to help prevent floods this year.
Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. Source
Re: The Floods of 2012
Ayutthaya 'will be sumberged again'
Pongphon Sarnsamak
The Nation June 22, 2012 1:00 am
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/nationa ... 84661.html
Experts warn that blocking water will only submerge several provinces
Bangkok, Pathum Thani and Nonthaburi should not be affected too badly by floods this year because enough dykes and embankments have been built to protect them, though Ayutthaya will be under more than 3 metres of water, experts said yesterday.
This prediction was made by consulting company Team Group, which presented its findings at the "Knowing and Fighting against Flooding" seminar held yesterday at Bangkok's Emerald Hotel.
Team Group's managing director, Chawalit Chantararat, said a team of experts had used a model based on last year's volume of water in order to make this prediction. He said the team had discovered that many northern areas of Bangkok would be submerged, including sites around Rapeepat Rangsit and Prayoonrasak canals. In addition, Ayutthaya's Lat Bua Luang, Phak Hai, Bang Sai, Bang Lane, Bang Pla Mha, Sena, Bang Ban and Maha Rat districts will be affected as will Suphan Buri's Song Phi Nong district as well as Angthong's Pho Thong and Pa Moke districts. The flooding in these areas will up to 60 to 80centimetres deep, much higher than the level last year, while Ayutthaya's main town of Muang Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya will be under 3m of water.
Even though the rainfall will be less or the same as last year, water experts found that the level of flooding in some areas will be more than last year due to the many floodprevention measures taken to block runoffs to Bangkok, Nonthaburi and Pathum Thani. These floodprevention measures will divert floodwaters to other areas.
He added that areas in the west of Bangkok will be flooded this year such as the area between Khlong 13 canal and Nakhon Nayok's Ongkharak district as well as areas between Bangkok's Nong Chok district and Chachoengsao province's Bang Nam Prieo district. Other districts in Chachoengsao province will also be submerged as the government is planning to divert water to these areas.
Somchai Baimuang, deputy director of the Thai Meteorological Department, said the average rainfall since the start of this year was higher compared to the same period last year. However, he said, it was too early to say if the amount of rainfall this year will be higher than last year and that his agency would have to monitor the situation for another three months.
He added that he personally believes that flooding this year would be lower than last year because most of last year's flooding had been caused by heavy rainfall early in the rainy season. In addition, plenty of floodprevention measures have been taken to block the water flow, he said.
Pramote Maiklad, former irrigation chief and member of the Strategic Committee for Water Resources Management (SCWRM), said he was not confident about the government's floodprevention measures because very little progress has been made to construct embankments and other structures to prevent flooding.
"Just dredging canals across the upper and lower part of the North and Central regions will not stop the flooding," he said. Instead, he said, the government should construct floodways to divert floodwater to the sea instead of finding retention areas.
Pongphon Sarnsamak
The Nation June 22, 2012 1:00 am
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/nationa ... 84661.html
Experts warn that blocking water will only submerge several provinces
Bangkok, Pathum Thani and Nonthaburi should not be affected too badly by floods this year because enough dykes and embankments have been built to protect them, though Ayutthaya will be under more than 3 metres of water, experts said yesterday.
This prediction was made by consulting company Team Group, which presented its findings at the "Knowing and Fighting against Flooding" seminar held yesterday at Bangkok's Emerald Hotel.
Team Group's managing director, Chawalit Chantararat, said a team of experts had used a model based on last year's volume of water in order to make this prediction. He said the team had discovered that many northern areas of Bangkok would be submerged, including sites around Rapeepat Rangsit and Prayoonrasak canals. In addition, Ayutthaya's Lat Bua Luang, Phak Hai, Bang Sai, Bang Lane, Bang Pla Mha, Sena, Bang Ban and Maha Rat districts will be affected as will Suphan Buri's Song Phi Nong district as well as Angthong's Pho Thong and Pa Moke districts. The flooding in these areas will up to 60 to 80centimetres deep, much higher than the level last year, while Ayutthaya's main town of Muang Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya will be under 3m of water.
Even though the rainfall will be less or the same as last year, water experts found that the level of flooding in some areas will be more than last year due to the many floodprevention measures taken to block runoffs to Bangkok, Nonthaburi and Pathum Thani. These floodprevention measures will divert floodwaters to other areas.
He added that areas in the west of Bangkok will be flooded this year such as the area between Khlong 13 canal and Nakhon Nayok's Ongkharak district as well as areas between Bangkok's Nong Chok district and Chachoengsao province's Bang Nam Prieo district. Other districts in Chachoengsao province will also be submerged as the government is planning to divert water to these areas.
Somchai Baimuang, deputy director of the Thai Meteorological Department, said the average rainfall since the start of this year was higher compared to the same period last year. However, he said, it was too early to say if the amount of rainfall this year will be higher than last year and that his agency would have to monitor the situation for another three months.
He added that he personally believes that flooding this year would be lower than last year because most of last year's flooding had been caused by heavy rainfall early in the rainy season. In addition, plenty of floodprevention measures have been taken to block the water flow, he said.
Pramote Maiklad, former irrigation chief and member of the Strategic Committee for Water Resources Management (SCWRM), said he was not confident about the government's floodprevention measures because very little progress has been made to construct embankments and other structures to prevent flooding.
"Just dredging canals across the upper and lower part of the North and Central regions will not stop the flooding," he said. Instead, he said, the government should construct floodways to divert floodwater to the sea instead of finding retention areas.
Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. Source
Re: The Floods of 2012
Just a pity they can't divert some of it here to Borfai so we could at least have some municipal water. 
Don't try to impress me with your manner of dress cos a monkey himself is a monkey no less - cold fact
Re: The Floods of 2012
At best, they will have just moved/diverted the flooding away to elsewhere from areas it's politically sensitive to have under a meter or two of water, like those huge industrial estates.
Resolve dissolves in alcohol
Re: The Floods of 2012
I wouldn't call the Industrial Estates simply politically sensitive.
They are far more than that, Financially crippling for Thailand would be the impact if they flood again.
I visit frequently, many of the Industrial areas that flooded last year - Rojana, Hi Tech, Bangpa-In, Nawanakorn. There are still some factories, that barely show signs of any recovery, some still waiting for the Salvage/Insurance Specialists to complete their assessments. All of these factories are International Companies, that will simply pack up and move elsewhere should the Floods hit again. Some packed up and left last year. But there would certainly be a mass exodus if the same situation was repeated any time in the near future.
100s of 1,000's of jobs could be lost, with many Billions of $ impact on the Thai economy
Some of the Industrial Estates are building their own defenses, perimeter walls. A few are quite substantial, others are mud walls. Some Ind Ests have already nearly completed wall, others seem like they will not be finished for 12 months or so.. Some factories have build their own perimeter walls, I know 1 Company that is currently constructing a US$4M Perimeter wall, complete with automated hydraulic powered water-tight gates.
I hope the floods do not return again this year (inevitably they will return at some time on the future), but sentiment seems to be on the increase, that there will be a wet Christmas at the end of the year again.
I spend most of my time in Bangkok, and I cannot say that I've seen a single activity related to dredging or clearing canals (I'm not saying it hasn't happened, I've just not seen it). I drive over klongs that are full of stagnant water, full of garbage and plants, blocked sluices.
I truly hope that their is more activity going on, that I cannot see, and that some of it, at least, has been properly planned and executed.
They are far more than that, Financially crippling for Thailand would be the impact if they flood again.
I visit frequently, many of the Industrial areas that flooded last year - Rojana, Hi Tech, Bangpa-In, Nawanakorn. There are still some factories, that barely show signs of any recovery, some still waiting for the Salvage/Insurance Specialists to complete their assessments. All of these factories are International Companies, that will simply pack up and move elsewhere should the Floods hit again. Some packed up and left last year. But there would certainly be a mass exodus if the same situation was repeated any time in the near future.
100s of 1,000's of jobs could be lost, with many Billions of $ impact on the Thai economy
Some of the Industrial Estates are building their own defenses, perimeter walls. A few are quite substantial, others are mud walls. Some Ind Ests have already nearly completed wall, others seem like they will not be finished for 12 months or so.. Some factories have build their own perimeter walls, I know 1 Company that is currently constructing a US$4M Perimeter wall, complete with automated hydraulic powered water-tight gates.
I hope the floods do not return again this year (inevitably they will return at some time on the future), but sentiment seems to be on the increase, that there will be a wet Christmas at the end of the year again.
I spend most of my time in Bangkok, and I cannot say that I've seen a single activity related to dredging or clearing canals (I'm not saying it hasn't happened, I've just not seen it). I drive over klongs that are full of stagnant water, full of garbage and plants, blocked sluices.
I truly hope that their is more activity going on, that I cannot see, and that some of it, at least, has been properly planned and executed.
Only the crumbliest, flakiest Winkie....
Re: The Floods of 2012
Yes, you are of course correct, I just didn't think I'd attach the drama, or insinuation of such, to my post and thought I'd keep it general.Winkie wrote:I wouldn't call the Industrial Estates simply politically sensitive.
They are far more than that, Financially crippling for Thailand would be the impact if they flood again.
"Politically sensitive" does cover it without the melodrama, as losing some major economically contributing areas such as you mentioned is "Politically sensitive", however understated.
Although, great post man, as you live there and gave some interesting stuff to for us to read from someone 'on-the-ground', and that is always welcome for us to read dude from someone that is close to the subject as an observer.
Resolve dissolves in alcohol