PHICHIT, Aug 21 – Floods continue in some northern provinces while Kalasin province in the Northeast remains vigilant for possible flooding and landslide.
The water level in the Yom River, running through Phichit province passed the critical level by 85 centimetres and overflowed its banks, flooding 150 houses in Phichit’s Pho Thale district. Moreover, run-off from further north has contributed to extensive floods in low-lying areas along the Yom River.
More than 10,000 rais (4,000 acres) of paddy fields were damaged. Some villagers have fallen ill and are experiencing heightened stress. Suwit Vatcharothayangkul, Phichit governor led mobile medical units to treat flood victims and distributed 600 flood relief supplies to them.
In the northern province of Nan, the business area in the Muang Nan municipality has been inundated by 50 centimetres of water, affecting trade.
Shop owners have been forced to move their belongings to higher ground. Six communities along the Nan River have been affected. Eight educational institutes in the municipality have yet to announce closures, awaiting an update to the situation on Sunday.
Surapon Thiensutr, mayor of the Muang Nan municipality ordered all flood gates to be opened to release the flood water in the communities into the Nan River. The situation will be closely monitored due to continuous rain.
In the northeastern province of Kalasin, heavy rains continued as 18 districts have been hit by flooding. The damage in 11 out of 18 districts is estimated to cost more than 73 million baht (US$2.4 million).
Wirote Jiwarangsan, Kalasin provincial governor, ordered local officials in 18 districts to be on alert as three days of rain have caused water in the Lampao dam basin to rise by 20 centimetres. Three at-risk districts in low-lying areas and in areas along the Phu Phan mountain range remain vigilant for possible flash floods and landslides.
