Sukhothai still underwater

All efforts, including the use of big bags, have falled to halt the surge of water into Sukhothai municipality caused by a major levee break.

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Officials head by boat to help flood-hit people in Sukhothai municipality yesterday after the Yom River spilled into the area. Water levels reached up to 1-metre high in the city’s main fresh market. Photos by Phubas Faites.

Morning update: Despite a massive operation to block its flow, water continues to surge into the commercial heart of Sukhothai municipality. More water from the North is likely to worsen the situation.

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Sukhothai floods as levees break

Eroded barriers fail, local people rush to evacuate

POST REPORTERS

Overflow from the Yom River hit the old capital of the historic Sukhothai kingdom early yesterday morning, breaking through eroded levees beneath flood walls to swamp parts of the city.

Officials and resources were urgently mobilised to help people in areas of Sukhothai municipality which were abruptly hit by the flooding.

Those big sandbags, so controversial in Bangkok, seemed to be just what was needed to stop the flow of water in the commercial areas of Sukhothai, but as of this morning, they have failed to block the surge of incoming water.

The surging waters made many roads in municipal areas of Sukhothai's Muang district impassable, with the level more than a metre deep in some places. At least five schools suspended classes.

His Majesty the King has had disaster relief packages worth more than 760,000 baht, delivered to 1,500 flood-affected households in the province via the Rajaprajanugroh Foundation.

The government said water management at dams was still under control, and that the Sukhothai flood was due to the levee bases on which flood walls had been built breaking unexpectedly.

Sukhothai municipality's Wichian Chamnong, Ratchathani, Pracha Ruamjai, Khlong Tapetch, Phra Maeya and Tan Diew communities were inundated.

The provincial hall was one of several government buildings inundated by the flood.

Local residents were forced to evacuate their belongings to higher ground.

Government offices, including the Sukhothai provincial hall, the provincial prosecution office and the Muang municipality office, were also swamped.

As floodwaters rose, the Provincial Electricity Authority decided to temporarily cut the power supply in several areas.

Workers from the municipality, local administrative bodies and a highway agency in Sukhothai toiled around the clock yesterday to put up large sandbags at locations where floodwater entered. Water pumps were expected to be turned on to drain out water from downtown areas after the floodwater is blocked.

Soldiers and border patrol police were mobilised to help local residents evacuate their belongings to safe areas and a rescue centre has been set up at Wat Ratchathani to help flood victims.

Flood or no flood, people have to eat, giving an advantage to mobile vendors.

Nisarat Khlibo, 50, a vendor at a municipality-run market, said many vendors were caught off guard by the sudden flooding. By the time a flood warning was issued, she saw water gushing into the market. Her grocery shop was under water less than an hour after the warning was issued.

Coming soon: Thailand submerged, the Bangkok Post's coverage of the Great Floods of 2011 with special help for English language learners, including vocabulary, Thai explanations and sound files.

Royol Chitradon, a member of the Water and Flood Management Commission (WFMC), said the status of water management in major dams was in line with the commission's plan.

He said water level in the Yom River was still lower than the floodwalls in Sukhothai by almost one metre.

Floodwater was able to enter inner Sukhothai because lower parts of the levees were eroded by the flow of water.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, who chaired the WFMC meeting yesterday, ordered the provincial governor and authorities to provide urgent assistance to Sukhothai residents, he said.

Ms Yingluck will visit the North on Thursday to inspect the flood situation.

Lertviroj Kowitwattana, director-general of the Royal Irrigation Department, said the North's major dams have the capacity to handle expected rainfall.

But if there is significant rainfall south of the Bhumibol Dam in Tak and Sirikit Dam in Uttaradit, several rivers may overflow, he said.

Over the past week, it rained heavily in several areas. In Phitsanulok, flood run-off has already reached Bang Rakam district, inundating more than 4,000 rai of farmland, a source said.

Thawit Luesingbun, head of Tabaek-ngarm village, said heavy downpours coupled with a huge volume of northern run-off caused Khlong Ket and Khlong Kam canals to overflow, submerging paddy fields in the village.

Luckily, he said, most farmers have already completed harvesting their crops.

In Ayutthaya, downpours and run-off badly damaged thousands of rai of paddy fields in Pak Hai district. The Noi River yesterday burst its banks, flooding riverside communities in Pak Hai with water levels reaching 30-50cm.

In Suphan Buri, three districts were under water after the Tha Chin River burst its banks. Days of heavy rain caused the river to overflow and inundate Muang, Bang Pla Ma and Song Phi Nong districts.

municipality – a town, city or district with its own local government เทศบาล
spill – (of a liquid) to come or fall out of something หกล้น
level – the amount of liquid that there is in a container, river, dam, etc., which can be seen by how high the liquid is ระดับ
levee – a low wall built at the side of a river to prevent it from flooding   เขื่อนป้องกันน้ำท่วม
massive – very large in size, amount or number ใหญ่โต
operation – a planned activity involving a lot of people การปฏิบัติการ
block – to stop someone/ something from moving through or along something else  ปิดกั้น, กีดขวาง
flow – the continuous movement of a liquid in one direction การไหล
surge – a sudden increase in something, in this case, the flow of water การเพิ่มขึ้นอย่างรวดเร็ว
commercial – for business purposes เกี่ยวกับการค้า
erode – to rub or be rubbed away gradually กร่อน, กัดกร่อน
barrier – a wall, pile of sandbags, etc., that prevents water from entering สิ่งกีดขวาง
local – in or related to the area that you live, or to the particular area that you are talking about  ท้องถิ่น
rush – to move or do something very quickly รีบเร่ง, วิ่ง
evacuate – to cause to leave a place because it is not safe เคลื่อนย้ายออกจาก
overflow – (of a river or body of water)  to flood the land next to it เอ่อล้น, ไหลล้น
swamp – to cover a place or thing with a large amount of water ทำให้ท่วม, ทำให้จมอยู่ในน้ำ
resources – things such as money, workers and equipment that can be used to help achieve something ทรัพยากร
urgently – needing to be dealt with immediately อย่างเร่งด่วน
mobilise – to organise a group of people to do something ระดมกำลัง
abruptly – suddenly and unexpectedly, and often unpleasant อย่างกะทันหัน
controversial – causing disagreement ซึ่งก่อให้เกิดการโต้แย้ง
impassable – of a road or path that cannot be travelled on because it is blocked or because of bad weather conditions  ซึ่งผ่านไปไม่ได้
suspend – to stop for a period of time ยกเลิกชั่วคราว, ระงับชั่วคราว
disaster – an unexpected event, such as a very bad accident, a flood or a fire, that kills a lot of people or causes a lot of damage ภัยพิบัติ ความหายนะ
relief – money, food, medicine etc. that is given to help people in places where there has been a natural disaster, war, etc. เครื่องบรรเทาสาธารณภัย
household – a group of people, often a family, who live together  ครัวเรือน
foundation – an organisation that provides money for things such as medical research or for a charity มูลนิธิ
due to – because of เนื่องจาก
base – the bottom part, edge, or surface of something พื้นฐาน, รากฐาน
community – the people living in one particular area ชุมชน
inundate – to flood; to submerge ท่วม, ทำให้จมลงใต้น้ำ
residents – people who live in a particular area ประชาชนที่อาศัยในท้องที่
belongings – the things you own ข้าวของเครื่องใช้
prosecution – the person or organisation that tries to prove in court that someone has committed a crime อัยการ
temporarily – for a limited period of time ชั่วคราว
administrative body – a group of people who carry out the arrangements and work which is needed to control the operation of a plan or organisation องค์กรบริหาร
highway – a main road for travelling long distances, especially one connecting and going through cities and towns ทางหลวง, ทางสายใหญ่
toil – to work very hard and/or for a long time, usually doing hard physical work ทำงานหนัก
around the clock – throughout the whole day and night; 24 hours ทั้งวันทั้งคืน
location – where someone or something is ที่ตั้ง,ทำเล
drain – to cause water or fluid to flow out ระบายออก
border patrol police – the part of the police force that is responsible for border security ตำรวจตระเวณชายแดน
rescue – saving a person or animal from a dangerous or unpleasant situation การช่วยชีวิต
victim – someone who has been affected by a bad situation, such as a disaster, illness or an accident เหยื่อผู้เคราะห์ร้าย
advantage – a condition giving a greater chance of success ความได้เปรียบ
mobile – able to move or be moved around ซึ่งเคลื่อนที่ได้ง่าย
vendor – someone who sells something, but not in a shop พ่อค้าแม่ค้าแผงลอย
caught off-guard – to be surprised by something unexpected ตกตะลึง, งงงันม เผลอ
issue – to announce something officially ออกประกาศ
gush – (of a liquid) to flow quickly and in large quantities พุ่ง, ไหลออก
commission – an official group of people who have been given responsibility to control something, or to find out about something, usually for the government  คณะกรรมการ, คณะกรรมาธิการ
status –position สถานภาพ
in line with – similar to or corresponding with another thing สอดคล้องกับ
authorities – people who have the power to make decisions or enforce the law เจ้าหน้าที่ผู้มีอำนาจ
inspect – to look at something carefully ตรวจสอบ
Royal Irrigation Department – The Thai government department in charge of the country's irrigation system กรมชลประทาน
capacity – the ability to do a particular thing ความสามารถ,สมรรถภาพ
significant – large or important enough to have an effect or to be noticed  ซึ่งมีความหมาย
run-off – rain, water or other liquid that runs off land into streams and rivers น้ำหลาก
source – someone who gives information แหล่งข่าว
downpour – a lot of rain in a short time ฝนตกหนักมาก, พายุฝน
coupled with – combined with and producing a particular effect  ประกอบกับ
volume – an amount of something ปริมาณ
submerge – to cause to be under water  ทำให้จมน้ำ ทำให้อยู่ใต้น้ำ
paddy field – a field planted with rice growing in water นาข้าว
harvest – the activity of collecting a crop, in this case a rice crop การเก็บเกี่ยวผลผลิต
crop – a plant grown for food, usually on a farm  พืชผล
burst its banks (of a river) – to flood; to have water go over the sides ล้นตลิ่ง