Nan landslide locks locals out of city
A massive landslide in Nan’s Chalerm Prakiat district has blocked a local highway and forced 5,000 residents who want to get back into town to take a 100-kilometre to reach the municipal area, instead of the usual 30km trip.
It is the second major landslide in this northern province in less than 30 days.
On July 27, a mudslide killed eight people and destroyed homes in the neighbouring district of Bo Klue. The victims were all family members living in four homes that were decimated by torrents of mud that swept down the mountain.
The latest landslide dumped more than 30,000 cubic metres of earth, which has piled up to about 4 metres high, on Highway 1081 at Ban Ngom in tambon Khun Nan of Chalerm Phrakiat district. The amount of earth in the landslide is estimated to be enough to fill the cargo holds of 2,000 10-wheel trucks.
According to local officials, it may take up to five days to reopen a single traffic lane. A wall will need to be built to prevent more soil sliding onto the road before the landslide is fully cleared.
Three excavators are being used in the operation to remove the soil.
Sirichai Phukchaiphuean, director of the 2nd Nan Highway, Col Rattana Phatthanasophon, who heads the 32nd Ranger Regiment Task Force, and Chalerm Prakiat district chief of Chainarong Nantasai yesterday rushed to inspect the scene and supervised the clean-up.
Motorists are advised to use a detour via Bo Klue, Pua, Chiang Klang and Thung Chang districts to get to the downtown area of the Chalerm Prakiat district.
However, shuttle bus services are being arranged for those who want to use the blocked 30km route. But the bus will stop at the landslide and the people have to cross over the huge pile of earth on foot.
Meanwhile, in Ayutthaya, the provincial authorities led by governor Sujin Chaichumsak are making preparations to cope with possible flooding following heavy rain in upstream provinces.
Ayutthaya is a low-lying province and it is flood prone in the event of massive runoff from the northern and central provinces. There is no threat of floods at this stage.
Authorities have identified 52 vulnerable spots that are likely to be affected if flooding hits and asked concerned parties to make plans accordingly. Six districts that would be hit first by inundation are Bang Ban, Phak Hai, Sena, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Bang Pa-in and Bang Sai.
Authorities have also divided the province into four zones with the industrial zone likely to be least affected due to its flood walls. The residential and cultural heritage zone has a flood-prevention plan.
The farming zone is said to be vulnerable and farmers are being urged to harvest their crops before Sept 15 or their plantations will be at risk of being flooded if there is excess water. The other zone comprises the low-lying and river communities that are prone to flooding and urgently need a relief and rehabilitation plan drawn up to mitigate against the threat.