Xangsane set to hit Bangkok today

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TROPICAL DEPRESSION

Xangsane set to hit Bangkok today

 

Storm downgraded but has already brought heavy rain to Northeast, lower North

 

 

Typhoon Xangsane brought heavy rain to many parts of the country yesterday. Phichit was especially hard hit and three villages were under near-ly three metres of water.

 

 

Xangsane was downgraded to a depression on Sunday evening but continued to bring heavy rain and strong winds to the Northeast - including Ubon Ratchathani's Muang and Khong Chiam districts and Sawang Weerawong sub dis-trict. Dozens of trees and electric pylons were felled in Warin Chamrap district. Many roads were blocked.

 

 

Khon Kaen's Chi River broke its banks and flooded homes and 10,000 rai of farmland in Wang Yai district. Local authorities dis-patched boats with relief supplies.

 

 

In Buri Ram, three passengers in a pickup were injured when the vehicle was hit by a falling tree on Ban Kruat-Lahan Sai Road in Ban Kruat district. Many roads in Muang district were also flooded.

 

 

However, rainfall brought relief to farmers and 3.5 million rai of drought-stricken rice crops. Buri Ram reservoirs are brimming.

 

 

Sirikit Dam in Uttaradit, Bhumipol Dam in Tak and Pasak Cholasit Dam in Lop Buri were all forced to release water. The Bhumipol and Pasak Cholasit dams are spilling a combined 35 million cubic metres a day. Nearby residents have been warned to be alert to rising river levels.

 

 

In Sam Ngam district in Phichit, Nong Bua and Tha Thong villages were under three metres of water as a result of rains and Yom River flooding. Villagers were running low on food and water.

 

 

A Pho Prathap Chang district village headman Somyos Kongkleu, 50, was said to have committed suicide after residents became angry and blamed him for insufficient relief supplies.

 

 

In Angthong, the Chao Phya Dam was forced to spill water causing the Chao Phya River to burst a 60-metre stretch of a flood-protection dyke in Muang district yesterday morning. Two houses were destroyed and another 700 flooded within 20 minutes of the breach. Boats evacuated residents - some injured.

 

 

In Chon Buri's Sattahip district, the Royal Thai Navy dispatched 350 officers to help load 15,200 relief bags for the Princess Pa Foundation to deliver to flood-affected villagers in five northern provinces.

 

 

In Uthai Thani, officials reported 69 villages and 15,403 rai of farmland in Muang, Thap Than, Nong Chang, Sawang Arom, and Nong Kha Yang were flooded, affecting 3, 617 residents.

 

 

Nearly 200 Naresuan University students in Phitsanulok has been hospitalised since last week after drinking water suspected of being contaminated by bacteria caused by flooding.

 

 

Disaster prevention official Wanchai Chaowanapanja said the seven provinces in the upper South - especially Phang Nga, Phuket and Krabi - were at risk of floods and landslides.

 

 

In Phang Nga, the body of a three-year-old boy was recovered 400 metres from where he was swept away by floodwaters on Saturday.

 

 

In Chiang Mai, Governor Suwat Tantipat said Bt1 million would be spent to help residents in Samoeng district - declared a disaster zone after the Kong Jok earth dam burst on Saturday, destroying homes and flooding 400 rai of farmland.

 

 

The Mineral Resources Department warned of landslides in highland and hill-country areas of Ubon Ratchathani, Si Sa Ket, Loei, Nakhon Ratchasima, Chaiyaphum, Trat, Chanthaburi, Sa Kaew, Prachin Buri, Phetchabun, Phitsanulok, Uttaradit, Phrae, Sukhothai, Kamphaeng Phet, Tak, Lampang, Trang, Phatthalung, Satun, and Songkhla.

 

 

The weather Department said Xangsane would reach central Thailand this morning. Heavy rain and flash floods were expected in the lower North, Northeast, East and Central Thailand - including Greater Bangkok. The south-west monsoon would bring rain and associated flooding to Ranong, Chumphon, and Phang Nga.

 

 

The Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea could expect two- to three-metre swells. A maritime warning is in force.

 

 

Xangsane weakened from a typhoon to a depression after it hit land and headed towards Thailand. It now packs winds up to 55 kilo-metres per hour and is travelling south-west at 15 kilometres an hour.

 

 

The Nation