Heavy rain & floods mark official beginning of rainy season all over Thailand.
Heavy rain & floods mark official beginning of rainy season all over Thailand.
In Nakhon Ratchasima, soldiers were forced to hurriedly knock holes in restraining walls at their base to let the floodwaters flow.
Heavy rains flood central areas
23/07/2013
Online Reporters
The downpour in several provinces in central, eastern and lower northeastern Thailand on Tuesday created floods in towns in Chanthaburi, Trat, Ranong and Nakhon Ratchasima.
Five areas of Chanthaburi’s Muang district were waist-high in floodwater on Tuesday afternoon, as runoff inundated several buildings and roads, affecting about 10,000 people.
The water level in the affected areas rose to one metre and was not abating as of Tuesday evening, as the rains continued on the night of Khao Phansa, considered to be the first official day of the rainy season in the affected provinces.
The Siritarn Dam near Chanthaburi’s Makham district overflowed, flooding about 40 houses nearby.
District and provincial authorities used 40 barges to rescue villagers stranded in their homes, and transport supplies to other flood victims.
Roads linking Makham district to the dam were all under water, although large vehicles could still pass as of Tuesday evening.
The governor of Chanthaburi, Surachai Kanarsa, ordered the use of backhoe loaders to help release water from the areas.
Flood runoff also entered the lobby of Bangkok Hospital in Chantaburi’s Muang district. In another area of the eastern city, water overflowed from Thung Na Chey pond to cover Tha Chaleab Road.
A resident in Chanthaburi operating a kitchenware shop in the town’s main market said the downpour began on Monday night, and continued without stopping until Tuesday afternoon. Floods built up with nowhere to run off, so the road in front of her house was under 30cm of water for several hours.
In next-door Trat province, heavy rain flooded many roads, preventing small vehicles from travelling and causing traffic congestion.
The flood level rose to about 20-30cm in Trat, and began seeping into homes in Muang district.
The water levels in both provinces may continue to rise if heavy rains resume Tuesday night as forecasted.
In Ranong, continuous rain has caused flooding in tambon Bang Rin of Muang district for the past two weeks.
In Nakhon Ratchasima in the Northeast, heavy rain all night Monday and Tuesday morning caused flooding in several areas of the province, particularly in the municipality. It caused a long delay for the annual wax candle procession due to start at 8am.
An hour after the scheduled time for the procression, the rain was still pouring down.
The 56 candle floats remained stationary around the park at the Thao Suranaree Monument and city officials began to have doubts whether the procession would even be held.
There were smiles all round when the rain eased off by noon and the festival activities began.
Provincial governor Winai Buapradit said the local meteorological office reported 120 millimetres of rain had fallen, causing quick flooding inside the Suranaree Army Base, where the water was more than one metre deep. The base commander authorised the knocking of holes in the wall surrounding the base, to let the water escape.
Mr Winai said the heavy rain will benefit farmers as it will raise water levels in several large reservoirs which were only about a third full as of last week.
Piyachat Insawang, chief of the provincial Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office in Nakhon Ratchasima, said the storm caused floods of about 50cm in front of the Save One Department Store in Muang district. Flooding was also reported in Bua Yai district.
The National Disaster Warning Centre on Tuesday issued a bulletin for people in the East and Northeast to expect heavy rain again on Wednesday.
People living near hillsides and waterways in Nakhon Nayok, Trat, Rayong, Chanthaburi, Loei, Udon Thani, Khon Kaen, Surin, Si Sa Ket and Ubon Ratchathani should prepare for rain storms, possible flash flooding and forest run-off on Wednesday, July 24.
