TROPICAL CYCLONE: Flood waters rising in North

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TROPICAL CYCLONE: Flood waters still rising in North

 

Published on May 23, 2004

 

 

4 bodies recovered in Tak as heavy rains continue

 

Heavy downpours caused by a tropical cyclone have worsened flooding in Tak, Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai and Mae Hong Son provinces, where several more people were confirmed yesterday as having drowned.

 

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra yesterday called on district officers and provincial governors to evacuate residents in preparation for further flash-floods, and to have aid ready for distribution to those affected.

 

Each province affected by the flooding has been allocated Bt10 million to aid victims, a sum the Interior Ministry is now doubling.

 

The situation has been made worse this year, Thaksin said, by widespread deforestation, leading to deterioration of soil quality and contributing to flash-flooding and drought.

 

Thaksin said he was disturbed at reports of reconnaissance helicopters being fired on by local thugs. This he said he found intolerable, adding that local authorities would be held responsible for all incidents of forest encroachment or associated violence.

 

Governors and district officers are supposed to keep watch over every square centimetre under their jurisdiction, he said.

 

Thaksin said Interior Minister Bhokin Bhalakula should see to it that every piece of Thai soil carries a title deed as a means of preventing forested land from further encroachment.

 

Meanwhile, Forestry Department director-general Chatchai Ratanopat said that the sea of logs, chiefly of soft wood, strewn around Tak's Mae Ramat district following this week's flash-floods had been brought down by the strength of the floodwaters and had not been felled, as many locals residents believed.

 

However, an investigation will take place to confirm this indeed was the case.

 

The bodies of Mae Ramat flood victims Khampaeng Wanpoon, 63, Khankham Khampala, 58, and Yongyut Supanakhon, 46, were found yesterday. Da Wanpoon, 90, and Noi Wanwong, 65, are still missing.

 

Fifteen houses were destroyed, and several vehicles disappeared in the floods in the district two days ago. Two thousand rai of farmland have also been damaged.

 

More than 270 houses in Tak's Tha Song Yang district have been damaged by the flooding, while storms took off roofs and other structures in Tha Khao Pluak in Chiang Rai's Mae Chan district. No casualties were, however, reported among residents of the 10 homes affected in Tha Khao Pluak.

 

More than 100 homes in Mae Hong Son have suffered damage from the impact of flowing logs.

 

Three people in Chiang Mai's Omkoi district had disappeared in the recent floods, with one of them - Tipu Mathusornsawan, a resident of tambon Yang Piang - confirmed yesterday as having drowned.

 

Two concrete bridges in Mae Hong Son's Huai Mae Hak and Huai Law Duk areas were also severely damaged yesterday by floodwaters.

 

The weather department has predicted heavy rains and possible further flash-floods in Kanchanaburi, Ratchaburi, Phetchaburi, Chanthaburi and Trat.

 

 

 

The Nation