Plan B for flooded Sukhothai

Large sandbags haven't worked so Sukhothai officials are bringing in up to 2,000 gabions ? rectangular wire mesh baskets filled with rock ? to try to close the hole in the flood barriers that is letting in torrents of water from the Yom River.

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Powerful flood currents yesterday smash through a wall of large sandbags put up to stop overflow from the Yom River in Sukhothai. Workers are racing against time to rebuild the sandbag wall to prevent the run-off from reaching inner areas of the province. PHUBAS FAITES

Morning update: As of this morning, the break in the flood wall had not been repaired and water continued to surge into the Sukhothai commercial centre. Irrigation officials were trying to divert some of the water flow before it reached the town,  but it looks like a lasting solution is still days away.

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Workers fight to hold back torrent

Sandbag wall breached as flood levels reach 2m

POST REPORTERS

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.

Sukhothai authorities were struggling yesterday to contain floods in municipal areas as torrents burst through a large sandbag dyke put up to stop the overflow from the Yom River.

A wall of large sandbags filled with stones was placed to close the hole in the flood barriers on Monday.

But powerful flood currents breached the barriers yesterday.

Authorities and workers had to rebuild a sandbag dyke 200m away.

Up to 2,000 gabions – rectangular wire mesh baskets filled with rock – were brought in to reinforce the sandbag wall and were installed overnight.

Pumps were used to drain floodwater out of the downtown area, which affected people living outside the sandbag wall, with water rising to more than 2m deep.

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Preecha Rengsomboonsuk said floodwater would be pumped out of the municipality as soon as the gabions are in place. He said Sukhothai municipality would be safe and dry in a few days.

Overflow from the Yom River hit Sukhothai municipality on Monday, breaking through eroded levees beneath flood walls to swamp parts of the city.

The flood occurred because the bases on which flood walls had been built unexpectedly broke.

The surging water made many roads in municipal areas of Sukhothai's Muang district impassable, with some of them under up to 1m of water.

Residents are coping with the floodwaters as best they can. THITI WANNAMONTHA

Sukhothai governor Chakkrin Plienwong said a temporary shelter for up to 1,000 people was set up at the provincial physical education college.

State agencies sent six-wheeled lorries and flat-bottomed boats to transport residents.

Sukhothai public healthcare chief Chinoros Leesawas said mobile medical units were deployed to help people suffering from illnesses during the flooding.

A local "taxi" in downtown Sukhothai. PHUBAS FAITES

Science and Technology Minister Plodprasop Suraswadi, who heads the Water and Flood Management Commission, yesterday apologised to Sukhothai residents.

He said the flood levees designed to prevent overflow from the Yom River were built in 2001 and the structure may have eroded through years of wear.

It was difficult to detect damage in the levee bases, he said.

However, he expected flood levels to recede in the next few days and said downstream provinces were not likely to be affected.

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current – a strong movement of water in one direction กระแสน้ำ
overflow – (of a river or body of water)  to flood the land next to it เอ่อล้น, ไหลล้น
run-off – rain, water or other liquid that runs off land into streams and rivers น้ำหลาก
repair – to fix something that is broken or damaged ซ่อมบำรุง
surge – to increase very quickly เพิ่มขึ้นอย่างรวดเร็ว
commercial – for business purposes เกี่ยวกับการค้า
irrigation – the process of bringing water to land through a system of pipes, ditches, etc. in order to make crops grow ระบบชลประทาน
divert – to cause something to change direction เบนเส้นทางเดิน
flow – continuous movement, in this case, of traffic การไหล
lasting – continuing to exist or have an effect for a long time ที่กินเวลานาน
torrent – a large amount of water flowing rapidly and violently กระแสน้ำเชี่ยว,การไหลพุ่
breach – to break through or over something ข้าม, ทำให้แตก
authorities – people who have the power to make decisions or enforce the law เจ้าหน้าที่ผู้มีอำนาจ
struggle – to try hard to do something that you find very difficult พยายาม
contain – to prevent from spreading; to keep within limits จำกัด,ควบคุมไว้
municipal – of a town, city or district with its own local government เทศบาล
burst – to break open suddenly because there is too much pressure inside or against โพล่ง, แตก, ระเบิด
dyke – a wall built to prevent the sea, river of flood water from covering an area เขื่อนกั้นน้ำ
barrier – a wall, pile of sandbags, etc., that prevents water from entering สิ่งกีดขวาง
gabions – boxes, cages or cylinders with rocks, concrete or sometimes sand and soil that are used in civil engineering, road building and often to strengthen river banks or shorelines หลัวรูปทรงกระบอกที่ใช้ใส่ร่องหินสำหรับวางฐานในการสร้างเขื่อน
rectangle – a flat shape with four straight sides, two of which are longer than the other two, and four angles of 90° รูปสี่เหลี่ยมมุมฉาก
rectangular – having the shape of a rectangle ซึ่งเป็นรูปสี่เหลี่ยมมุมฉาก
mesh – material made of threads of plastic rope or wire that are twisted together like a net ตาข่าย
reinforce – to make stronger เสริมให้แข็งแรงขึ้น
drain – to cause water or fluid to flow out ระบายออก
natural resources –  things such as coal, trees, wildlife and oil that exist in nature and can be used by people ทรัพยากรธรรมชาติ
environment – the place in which people or animals live including all the physical conditions that affect them สภาพแวดล้อม, สิ่งแวดล้อม
municipality – a town, city or district with its own local government เทศบาล
erode – to rub or be rubbed away gradually กร่อน, กัดกร่อน
levee – a low wall built at the side of a river to prevent it from flooding   เขื่อนป้องกันน้ำท่วม
swamp – to cover a place or thing with a large amount of water ทำให้ท่วม, ทำให้จมอยู่ในน้ำ
base – the bottom part, edge, or surface of something พื้นฐาน, รากฐาน
impassable – of a road or path that cannot be travelled on because it is blocked or because of bad weather conditions  ซึ่งผ่านไปไม่ได้
residents – people who live in a particular area ประชาชนที่อาศัยในท้องที่
cope – to deal successfully with a difficult situation รับมือ
temporary – done or used for only a limited period of time, i.e., not permanent ชั่วคราว
shelter – a place where people are protected from danger or bad weather; a temporary place to stay ที่หลบภัย  ที่พักชั่วคราว
state – government รัฐบาล
lorry – a truck; a large road vehicle used for carrying goods รถบรรทุก
transport – moving people or things from one place to another การขนส่ง
mobile – able to move or be moved around ซึ่งเคลื่อนที่ได้ง่าย
deploy – to put in place ready for use นำมาใช้
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
apologise – to say you are sorry for doing something wrong or for causing a problem ขอโทษ
structure – something large such as a building or a bridge that is built from different parts โครงสร้าง
wear – the damage or loss of quality that is caused when something has been used a lot ความเสื่อมเสีย
detect – to notice, to discover or find out พบได้, สังเกต
recede – to move back; to move further away into the distance; subside ลดลง, ถอยหลัง
downstream – in the direction that a river or stream is flowing ตามทิศทางของกระแสน้ำ,ตามน้ำ,ตามกระแสน้ำ