Thailand, Flood affecting several Provinces

BANGKOK, 21 September 2012 (NNT) – The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) has announced that more provinces have fallen victim to the monsoon flooding, which has rampaged several parts of the country in the past weeks.

DDPM Director-General Wiboon Sanguanpong said on Thursday that a total of 15 provinces have been declared flood-disaster zones. They include Tak, Sukhothai, Phitsanulok, Pichit, Chainat, Ang Thong, Ayutthaya, Suphan Buri, Prachinburi, Sakaeo, Nakhon Pathom, Chonburi, Rayong, Chachoengsao and Chaiyaphum.

According to Mr. Wiboon, 235,545 people from 88,438 families have been hit hard by severe flooding induced by recent heavy downpours.

He added that, Sakaeo locals have been hit by flash flood and forest run-off, while flash flood and run-off were also reported at the Rong Klua Market.

In Prachinburi, low-lying areas of the province have been inundated after the Prachinburi River burst the banks.

Based on the National News Bureau of Thailand (NNT) The Kasetsart University Office of Agricultural Economics (KU-OAE) Foresight Center has indicated that the flooding in the lower north and central regions have covered over 1.3 million rai of land. Around 430,000 rai of rice fields have been damaged. The center predicted that this year's rice yields will be reduced by 210,000 tons of the country's overall production, estimated at 25 million tons. Damage is said to be around 2.2 billion baht at the moment. Meanwhile, a researcher from Princess Chulabhorn Satellite Receiving Station said the 14 flood-affected provinces are in low plains, where floods occur regularly; fortunately, the water just runs through and is not trapped in the fields the way it did in the 2011 flooding.

As of 24 September 2012, The Water Management Operation Center stated that the water levels in the flooded areas in the North and Central regions have subsided, except in Bang Rakam District in Phitsanulok and Mueang District in Prachin Buri, where the water has overflown the banks. The center, however, expected that water levels will be reduced in a few days.