Floods, mudslides in North Thailand
Floods, mudslides in North – and more to come
BANGKOK: — Thirteen districts out of 18 in the northern province of Chiang Rai have been declared disaster areas after flash floods inundated 322 villages,destroyed bridges and caused mudslides in many areas.
Villagers in tambon Mae Jaydee in Wieng Pa Pao district are stranded after mudslides blocked access in and out. Wide areas of farmland are under water and livestock and villagers are being evacuated.
A 10 metre section of a bridge linking two large villages in Mae Saruay province has been washed away by floodwater, leaving 700 hilltribe people in 177 households isolated, said district chief Natthawet Rattanasathaphorn.
Overall damage is estimated at Bt24 million from flooding in 66 tambons in 13 districts, with 322 villages affected, said the provincial public safety office.
Meanwhile, 10 other provinces in the Northeast have been declared prone to flash flood following many days of heavy rains and the possibility of torrential rains over the next three days from today.
Provinces at risk are Nakhon Phanom, Mukdahan, Amnat Charoen, Kalasin, Roi Et, Yasothon, Ubon Ratchathani, Surin and Buri Ram, according to a warning by the Meteorological Department.
Flash floods hit Thai-Cambodian border markets, checkpoints
BANGKOK: — Flash floods from the hills along Thai-Cambodian border in Thailand’s eastern provinces poured into the market at a checkpoint for border trade between the two neighbouring countries, more than 200 vendors were affected by the inundation which caused damage estimated at over Bt30 million (US$850,000).
Runoff floods from Cambodia’s Phnom Preuk hill in Battambang province and Khao Ta Ngok in Thailand’s Sa Kaeo province combined with flash flooding from Khao Soi Dao in Chanthaburi which flowed into the Thai-Cambodian checkpoint for border trade at Ban Sub Taree and at Ban Suan Som in Soi Dao district of Chanthaburi.
The markets at both checkpoints were submerged, with border traders rushing to transfer their goods and products to higher ground as the water level is likely to continue to rise.
Flash floods also hit the 522th Marine Company base near the border.
There were no reports of casualties.