Heavy floods in the North of Thailand

[wowpow]

"Chiang Mai town left inundated after deluge

Chiang Mai _ A heavy downpour in the early hours of yesterday left Chiang Mai town under water and paralysed traffic. Officials said 10 large pumps worked all morning to drain water from heavily inundated areas into the Ping river. Waist-deep water was reported in many areas, including Sri Ping Muang. More than 50 smaller pumps were employed in other areas such as Chang Khlan and Chotana. The flooding caused traffic jams throughout the town.

Chiang Mai Mayor Boonlert Buranupajorn said drainage was hampered by the overflowing of the Mae Hia stream, which pushed the flood waters back into the town through an irrigation tunnel. One of the worst-hit areas was the residential estate in tambon Mae Hia next to a site planned for a three-month international horticultural exposition.

Thanawat Todchai, chairman of tambon Mae Hia administrative organisation, said that the exhibition site's drainage system was still under construction so the flood water flowed out into the adjoining residential area. He said under the drainage plan the water must be drained into Mae Hia stream.

In Lampang, a flash flood triggered by heavy rain hit three districts _ Mae Moh, Hang Chat and Koh Kha.

Chanthip Lasaenlue, 55, was reported to have been swept away by a flood that affected more than 200 houses.

The weather officer has warned of more heavy rain and possible flash floods in the northern provinces of Chiang Rai, Phayao, Mae Hong Son, Chiang Mai and Nan"

Bangkok Post

[wowpow]

" Trains cancelled to Chiang Mai

The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) last night cancelled all train services between Chiang Mai and Bangkok after floods damaged the track in Lampang. Hundreds of would-be passengers were stranded at Chiang Mai train station as of press time.

Railway police and SRT officials said they could not fix the damaged track because the flooding was ongoing."

The Nation

[Bob]

Chang Klan is the night market street. Last year, the Ping River overflowed seriously twice - one time to a depth of about 3 feet on Chang Klan!

According to a 2002 article in the Chiangmai Mail: "Chiang Mai Municipality has already prepared a plan to cope with any flash floods this year, according to Boonlert Buranapakorn, the Chiang Mai mayor anticipating the Ping RiverтАЩsтАЩ overflowing in several municipal areas." Yea, sure.

After the significant flooding last year, they came up with a plan to erect cement walls along the Ping River. That idea received so much opposition that they decided to just dredge the Ping River (as reported in the August 4, 2006, Chiangmai Mail). Of course, they haven't decided as yet when they'll meet to decide when to do it.

Whenever they determine the best method to control the serious flooding that has occurred for many years, they'll probably start the project in, maybe, 2050?

[wowpow]

I cannot - like Bob - resist a note of sympathy for those effected by the floods.

I am just wondering how things are in New Orleans these days. Recently I was told that they have done SFA to improve the river defences and that the corruption there is legendary.

OK so two wrongs don't make a right. I just get bemused by electorates that vote for governments that then does not look after the electorate's neds.

[wowpow]

"Severe tropical storm "Pra Pirun" is forecast to worsen the flood situation in the North and cause heavy rain and flash-floods in the Northeast and East of Thailand.

Pra Pirun was Wednesday centred in the South China Sea about 550 kilometres southeast of Hainan island. Maximum wind velocity recorded near its centre was about 110 kph. It was moving northwest at about 15 kph and would affect Thailand's weather.

The storm has already caused heavy rain in northern provinces including Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Lamphun, Lampang and Mae Hong Son. Kriengsak Khet-in, an official of the Northeast region meteorological centre, said people in lowland areas of Nong Khai, Nakhon Phanom, Ubon Ratchathani, Mukdahan and adjacent provinces should beware of flash-floods in the next few days.

"The tropical storm will increase in power and reach land on Sunday. It will bring heavy rain to 80 per cent of the Northeast," said Kriengsak."

The Nation