CHEIAS NA TAILÂNDIA

Flooding has killed 37 people and left one victim missing, according to the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department (DPMD). It has also upset the lives of more than 1.15 million people in many provinces.

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At least 16 provinces were flooded as of press time.

They were Sukhothai, Phichit, Phitsanulok, Kamphaeng Phet, Nakhon Sawan, Phetchabun, Nakhon Na Yok, Ayutthaya, Roi Et, Kalasin, Ubon Ratchathani, Angthong, Prachin Buri, Chiang Rai, Lamphun, and Lampang.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has ordered the Royal Irrigation Department and the Water Resources Department to hold discussions with the governors of affected provinces and present their well-prepared plan to tackle water-related problems in the Yom River basin next month.

Agriculture Minister Theera Wongsamut yesterday said two smaller dams proved to be a more practical solution than the Kaeng Sua Ten dam, which had long drawn stiff opposition from residents.

The lack of dams in strategic locations has been blamed for flooding in the lower North, which included Phrae, Nan, Sukhothai, Phitsanulok and Phichit.

In Phichit, one death was reported yesterday. The victim was Daoruang Meesantiah, 41. Locals said Daoruang, a native of Nakhon Sawan, left a house and tried to wade through floodwater that was nearly two metres deep on Saturday. He drowned and his body was found yesterday.

Daorunag's death raised the flood-related casualties in Phichit to four this month - the highest in 10 years for this province. Inundation also ravaged more than 100,000 rai of farmland and damaged 10 local roads in Phichit.

In Chiang Rai's Mae Sai district, run-off water from mountains yesterday swept two-year-old Pongsakorn Shosayky away and drowned him.

Local officials are busy placing sandbags into embankments along the Sai River to prevent its overflowing from flooding more areas.

Heavy downpours continued in many parts of the country due to a monsoon and the low-pressure ridge that was downgraded from the Nock Ten storm.

In Phitsanulok's Bang Rakam district, many locals have been struggling with floods for a month now. Floodwater levels have prompted them to evacuate their houses and now to elevate their temporary shelters to higher levels.

Tiwat Prompiram, 55, said floodwaters at first affected only the first storey of his house. "Now, my second floor is flooded too," he said.

He said he had to raise a platform to keep his possessions out of the water and stayed in the flooded house to watch over his property.

"I am worried thieves may come in and steal my stuff if I am not home," he said.

He has decided to send his family members to a rented room at the cost of Bt2,500 a moth because he did not want to see them struggle with the rising water.

"Many families have done the same thing," Tiwat said.

In some areas of Phitsanulok's Meang district, flooding continued yesterday. Wat Kuha Sawan, for example, was inundated and a nearby school was assessing to check whether classes needed to be suspended.

In Lampang, run-off water from mountains flooded six villages in Mae Ta district seriously ravaging locals' shiitake farms. A landslide also hit a house, destroying the owner's properties, motorcycle and farming tools.

In Lamphun, many people in Ban Ti district woke up to find their house was flooded. In some areas, floodwater was 50-centimetres-deep.

 
Fonte - The Nation Bangkok