Barge victims have new worries

Residents living along the Chao Phraya river bank where that sugar barge sank now have new worries as fish farmers get some welcome news.

Farmers drain water from their paddy fields which have been submerged under more than a metre of water. Heavy rainfall and run-off from the North triggered a flash flood that ravaged more than 1,000 rai of rice fields in tambon Ban Kum in Ayutthaya’s Bang Ban district. SUNTHORN PONGPAO

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Barge victims fear further erosion

AYUTTHAYA: New cracks on the river bank where a sugar barge sunk two weeks ago has left residents fearing more erosion and damage to their property.

La-o Phalikham, one of five villagers whose houses have been damaged by severe erosion, said there was considerable disquiet that the new cracks would be ignored until a permanent dyke was constructed next year. A barrier made up of about 1,000 wooden barricades and 40,000 sandbags, which had formed an 80m protecting wall, has started to sink into the Chao Phraya river, causing the new cracks and raising the risk of further erosion.

Mrs La-o called on officials to reinforce the wall until the Marine Department built a stronger embankment next year.

The sinking of the barge loaded with 2,400 tonnes of sugar on May 31 changed the flow of the river, causing water to eat into the river bank in tambon Phu Khao Thong in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya district.

Meanwhile, the cabinet announced yesterday, the government will help cover 60% of the 6 million baht in damages to fish farms in the Chao Phraya river which were severely affected by seepage from the sunken barge.

drain – to cause water or fluid to flow out ระบายออก
submerge – to cause to be under water  ทำให้จมน้ำ ทำให้อยู่ใต้น้ำ
trigger – to cause ก่อให้เกิด กระตุ้น
flash flood – a flood that happens suddenly without warning น้ำที่เกิดท่วมในที่ต่ำโดยฉับพลันทันทีและไหลลดลงอย่างรวดเร็ว
ravaged – destroyed damaged very badly  ถูกทำลาย, เสียหาย, ถูกล้างผลาญ
barge – a long flat boat used on rivers and barges เรือท้องแบน
victim – someone who has been affected by a bad situation, such as an illness or an accident เหยื่อผู้เคราะห์ร้าย
erosion – gradually destroying the surface of something through the action of wind, rain, etc; to be gradually destroyed in this way การกัดกร่อน,การเซาะ
crack – a line on a surface where something is beginning to break apart รอยแตก  รอยร้าว
bank – a raised area of land along the side of a river  ริมฝั่งแม่น้ำ
sunk (past of sink) – having fallen to the bottom river, lake, sea, etc. จมอยู่ใต้น้ำ
residents – people who live in a particular area ประชาชนที่อาศัยในท้องที่
property – land owned by someone ที่ดิน, อสังหาริมทรัพย์
severe – very serious and worrying ที่รุนแรง ที่น่าเป็นห่วง
considerable – large; of noticeable importance จำนวนมาก
disquiet – anxiety ความกังวล
ignore – to fail to pay attention to เพิกเฉย
permanent – happening or existing for a long time or for all time in the future ถาวร 
dyke – a wall built to prevent the sea or a river from covering an area, or a channel dug to take water away from an area เขื่อนกั้นน้ำ
barrier – a wall, pile of sandbags, etc., that prevents water from entering สิ่งกีดขวาง
barricade – a barrier; a temporary structure that is built across something แผงหรือแนวรั้วกั้น
risk – the possibility that something dangerous or unpleasant might happen ความเสี่ยง
reinforce – to make stronger เสริมให้แข็งแรงขึ้น
embankment – a slope made of earth or stone that rises up from either side of a road, railway/railroad, river, etc. มูลดิน,ตลิ่งทาง
cabinet – the group of government ministers who make and approve government policy คณะรัฐมนตรี
seepage – the process by which a liquid flows slowly and in small quantities through something; the result of this process การรั่วซึม