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Published on October 7, 2007

Flooding persisted in many North, upper Central and Northeast provinces yesterday following several days of rain brought by Typhoon Lekima.

In Muang district of Uttaradit, Thonglor Suno, the village headman of Ban Haiha in tambon Bandan Nakham, said forest floods destroyed a bridge and road in the village, marooning 50 families. Assistance is being provided.

Laplae district chief Banyat Jaikham reported residents living near Mae Prong, Mae Pool and Huai Khambi canals had moved to high ground as run-off from the waterways continued.

Agriculture official Surapol Jarupong said the flooding in Phitsanulok's Noen Maprang district, which was declared a disaster zone on Friday, was the "worst in 40 years". So far it has damaged 25,400 rai of farmland.

The Public Health Ministry yesterday sent 20,000 packages of medical supplies to the province and another 2,000 to Nong Khai.

In Phichit, 95 villages in 12 tambon in Thab Khlo, Sak Lek and Wang Sai Phun districts are flooded, affecting more than 2,000 households.

In Wang Sai Phun district water from Phetchabun and Phitsanulok has put 21 villages in four tambon under one-metre flooding. More than 1,000 households are affected and many roads damaged. Officials using boats have been bringing assistance to residents.

Forest run-off from Doi Luang National Park in Phan district of Chiang Rai has hit 640 households at Ban Pa Khaem village and Ban Thung Pakkud in tambon Pahoong. Officials used heavy machinery to clear logs, branches and debris brought by floodwater. Residents built sandbag barriers to protect Wat Pa Khaem.

In neighbouring Lamphun, floodwaters hit four tambons in Li district damaging farmland and a road.

To prevent flooding in the Chao Phya River basin the Royal Irrigation Department asked the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand to reduce water release from the Bhumibol and Sirikit dams from a total of 14 million cubic metres a day to eight million cubic metres, spokesman Boonsanong Suchatpong said.

In the Northeast province of Kalasin, irrigation officials are releasing water from the Lampao Dam at a rate of 25 million cubic metres a day.

The dam is at 99-per-cent capacity following heavy rain, said Governor Prachajit Sutthiphol. He said 100,000 rai of farmland was flooded and 18 districts had been declared disaster zones.

Loei disaster prevention chief Suthep Maneechot yesterday reported that all 14 of the Northeast province's districts suffered some flooding, affecting more than 112,000 residents and damaging 31,900 rai of farmland, 860 roads and 700 sewers. Damage is estimated at Bt12 million.

In related news, Mineral Resources Department director-general Apichai Chawacharoenphan warned people living in valleys and mountainous areas and along waterways in Chiang Mai, Tak, Mae Hong Son, Sukhothai, Uttaradit, Phrae, Lampang and Lamphun to prepare for possible flash floods and landslides.

The Meteorological Department at 4am yesterday warned that a moderate south-west monsoon prevailed over the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand causing thundershowers with isolated heavy rain.

It advised travellers to check weather forecasts before departing for Taiwan, which is in the path of Typhoon Krosa.