Waters ease but heavy rain set to return
MITIGATION OFFICIALS ON STANDBY IN FLOOD-PRONE LOCATIONS
>> Floods have eased in five southern provinces but heavy rainfall is predicted to return in many areas in the next three days, according to the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation.
The ravaging floods have subsided in the lower southern provinces of Yala, Ranong, Narathiwat, Pattani and Krabi. The flood situation, meanwhile, still affects Phatthalung, Songkhla, Trang, Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat and Chumphon as well as Prachuap Khiri Khan in the Central region.
In the provinces still experiencing floods, 40 districts, 256 tambons and 2,070 villages are currently affected.
In general, in all the affected provinces, the water has gradually subsided with relief continuing to be handed out to residents and damage assessed, said the department chief Chatchai Promlert.
However, from tomorrow until Wednesday, moderate and heavy rains are forecast in Chumphon, Surat Tani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phatthalung, Songkhla, Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat.
Mr Chatchai said flood mitigation officials are on standby in flood-prone locations, ready to launch rescue missions if needed.
The Meteorological Department said many provinces in the South are in for more wet weather, while the mercury will drop by 3-6 degrees Celsius in the upper North.
Meanwhile, 40 people have died in or as a result of the heavy floods, which have swept through vast areas of the South and Prachuap Khiri Khan since Jan 1.
A total of 522,330 households and 1.6 million people have been affected, according to the department. Many residents were driven from their homes by the torrential run-off from the mountains.
Also, 20 government offices and 1,135 bridges were damaged.
The Agriculture Ministry yesterday announced it has set up a centre to deal with damage to farm crops, offering immediate assistance to affected farmers and helping devise medium and long-term plans to grow crops suited to the weather conditions.
Agriculture permanent secretary Theerapat Prayooonsit said post-flood remedial measures were afoot to help the southern farmers.
The ravaged farmland will be surveyed and mobile agriculture clinics on hand to advise farmers, particularly rubber growers, on how to restore the fields and extend necessary help. The farmers will be advised on the use of fertiliser and redeveloping soil quality.
Fishermen will also be supplied with liquid solutions to battle aquatic diseases brought on by the floods and livestock raisers will be given feed and free check-ups for their animals.
Mr Theerapat added assistance measures are being extended to farmers in flooded provinces declared disaster zones.
Among the measures is a debt moratorium for farmers who took out loans to invest in their farms.
The Democrat Party’s strategic panel, in the meantime, has suggested the government seriously enforce city-planning regulations to prevent future disasters caused by floods.
Phumsan Seniwong Na Ayutthaya, the panel chairman, said towns and cities have expanded rapidly, usually in an unregulated way. Many newly constructed buildings and homes block natural waterways that help drain away floodwater quickly.
Rubbish clogging the drainage systems, some silted up from debris and dirt, must be cleared away.
He added more gaemling (monkey cheek) water catchments were needed to temporarily hold excess water before it is diverted to the rivers and the sea.
Mr Phumsan said a one-stop communication centre must be put in place to disseminate information about the disaster, and rescue and relief operations to the public to prevent confusion.