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Published on September 13, 2007

Following days of heavy rain, floodwater swept through Phitsanulok's Nakhon Thai district, and from the Kwai Noi River to Chat Trakan district it overflowed to inundate farmland and houses.

Two sections of Nakhon Thai-Chat Trakan Road were under one metre of water, making them impassable for small vehicles.

Ban Nam Krad School in Nakhon Thai also suspended classes.

Phitsanulok disaster prevention chief Boonying Khumsuphan reported late yesterday that flooding in Nakhon Thai was easing except in some areas, while downstream in Chat Trakan district, 108 houses with 522 residents in Tambon Tha Sakae were struggling to cope with the inundation.

In Phichit, forest floods hit Ban Pa Makab School in Muang district, forcing 300 students to move class props and materials to higher ground.

School director Jamnong Ammatmanee said the floodwater swept through the front of the school and quickly inundated the area.

As the flood level rose to 80 centimetres, parents

hurried to collect their children as fears for their safety grew.

Phichit irrigation chief Paisal Phanpeung ordered 13 sluice gates in Muang district to be closed to allow for floodwater drainage into the Nan River.

He urged residents living along the Nan and Yom rivers to move their belongings to higher ground as the northern run-off combined with local floodwater was causing water levels in all areas to rise continuously.

In Phetchabun, where forest run-off hit Lom Kao and Lom Sak districts on Monday causing two deaths and leaving one person missing, Muang Phetchabun Municipality Mayor Wisal Kositanont said the water had now been absorbed by Lom Sak farmlands and should not affect Muang district.

However, precautionary measures were in place and officials were ready to assist affected residents.

The flood damage so far included 30 injured, 17 destroyed houses, 228 partially damaged homes, two totally destroyed bridges, three damaged bridges, four damaged roads and five damaged weirs.

The Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department has warned of flooding in a couple of days in high-risk areas of Mae Hong Son, Tak, Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, Phayao, Nan, Phrae, Lampang, Uttaradit, Phichit, Nong Khai, Chaiyaphum, Udon Thani, Sakhon Nakhon, Nakhon Panom, Phitsanulok, Phetchabun and Loei.

Meanwhile, the National Disaster Warning Centre is to install flood-mudslide warning towers in 144 locations from the end of this year,

Centre chairman Smith Thammasaroj said yesterday that global warming had contributed to flooding conditions in many areas.

He said the towers would be set up in 144 disaster-prone areas in northern, northeastern and central Thailand to warn the public 30 minutes or one hour in advance of potential disaster.

The Nation