elef Posted September 19, 2005 Report Share Posted September 19, 2005 TROPICAL STORM: Vicente sweeps across Isaan Published on September 19, 2005 At least 16 provinces hit by strong winds and pouring rain; officials prepare for more flash floods in the capital Tropical storm Vicente smashed into Thailand late yesterday, wreaking havoc in several Northern provinces as red alerts were issued in expectation of flash floods and landslides. After ravaging northwest Vietnam, the storm, with winds measuring at least 80kmh, proceeded to rip through 16 provinces in the North and Northeast ? many of which had not fully recovered from the ravages of a tropical depression last week. The Northeast has been hit by howling winds and pelting rain since Saturday evening. In Maha Sarakham, strong winds felled trees and caused the collapse of a two-storey school building. No one was injured because the school was closed yesterday. Students will resume their studies today in an undamaged gymnasium, authorities said. The Meteorological Depart-ment issued regular updates of Vicente?s progress throughout yesterday as well as warnings of potential flash floods in about 20 provinces, mostly in the Northeast. Bangkok was also on the list of affected provinces. The Interior Ministry said 16 provinces were at increased risk of floods and landslides ? Nakhon Phanom, Mukdahan, Amnat Charoen, Ubon Ratchathani, Nong Khai, Sakon Nakhon, Loei, Nong Bua Lamphu, Udon Thani, Phetchabun, Phayao, Phrae, Nan, Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai and Mae Hong Son. Deputy Minister Sermsak Pongpanit ordered governors of the 16 provinces to prepare for the evacuation of residents in danger zones and to issue hourly weather updates to people throughout last night. Officials in many provinces placed various landing craft on alert to assist in evacuations, if need be. In Bangkok, local authorities prepared more than 30 tow-trucks for service on roads in case of severe flooding today. Some areas of the capital are still battling with the remnants of floods from the tropical depression early last week. Bangkok Governor Apirak Kosayothin said about 1.7 million sandbags had been stockpiled and would be deployed, if needed. Newin Chidchob, minister in the Prime Minister?s Office, said many parts of Bangkok could be inundated today or tomorrow when Vicente passes through. Many provinces drained reservoirs yesterday to prevent heavy rains from causing unmanaged overflows. Yet heavy rain yesterday morning caused a reservoir in Amnat Charoen to break its banks. Officials were scrambling to drain other reservoirs in time. Although the storm is expected to miss the South, there were reports of heavy rains and floods in Phuket, Phang Nga, and Satun. In Phuket?s Muang district, mudslides swamped at least seven houses. The area between the popular Patong and Kamala beaches ? a landslide-prone zone ? was being closely monitored. And fishing boats in Satun were advised to stay at anchor. The Nation Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flashermac Posted September 20, 2005 Report Share Posted September 20, 2005 Still waiting on that rain in Bangkok. But some kind of bug is going around. Been flat on my back with it for two days and just starting to feel alive again tonight. Got to drag myself off to work somehow tomorrow. Missed one day aw-leady. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nervous_Dog Posted September 20, 2005 Report Share Posted September 20, 2005 You too? two of my staff out with it, then a eng from USA arrives and promptly goes down also!!!! DOg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whosyourdaddy Posted September 20, 2005 Report Share Posted September 20, 2005 yes I set the alarm for 530 this morning thinking I would make a mad dash to work before traffic was bogged down by the storm.... NOT A DAMN DROP> Definately tell the storm is an asian one and is on thai time Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elef Posted September 21, 2005 Author Report Share Posted September 21, 2005 Vicente causes havoc in North Published on September 21, 2005 Tropical depression Vicente has caused plenty of flooding in the North, especially in Chiang Mai where 2,000 houses in San Pa Tong district were submerged. Since the heavy rains started falling in northern regions earlier this week the Ping River has risen, prompting authorities to warn Muang district residents of floods and send 300 soldiers to pile sandbags along low-lying riverside areas. Schools along the Ping River - including Sacred Heart College, Montfort College, Regina Coeli College, and Chairote Wittayalai - immediately cancelled classes. After the Ping River rose to a critical level of 4.2 metres, as measured at Naowarat Bridge at noon yesterday, low-lying areas near Sacred Heart College and the Provincial Police Region 5 Office areas were flooded. Chiang Mai MP Pakorn Buranupakorn at the city?s flood centre said he expected the river to stabilise at 4.3 metres after the flow decreased from 10 centimetres an hour to seven. However, the city is still on alert as floodwaters are still joining the river upstream, Pakorn said. ?It won?t be as bad as the last time when the river was at 5.1 metres.? In San Pa Tong district, some 2,000 homes were inundated in two-metre-deep water, leaving villagers without electricity and fresh water. Highway 108 between Chiang Mai and Mae Hong Son had been obstructed as flash floods severely damaged one part of the road and a bridge. Flood-stricken routes in Mae Hong Son also isolated 2,000 villagers in Muang district?s tambon Huai Pong. In Phichit?s Wang Sai Phun district, some 3,000 rai of farmland and 30 houses were flooded under 1.5 metres of water. Meanwhile in the capital, Bangkok Governor Apirak Kosayodhin yesterday checked the Chao Phraya River?s concrete flood embankment under the Krung Thon Bridge and instructed officials to lay 5,500 sandbags at unfinished parts of the barrier to protect Rajvithee Road and Bang Phlat areas, where 4,000 people live. He also ordered 2.2 million sandbags (up from a previous 1.7 million) for the city to prepare for floodwaters and arranged 24 mobile units to help tackle flooding around the clock. Apirak said a 77 kilometre-long concrete embankment would be complete in 2008 and would prevent the river from overflowing into nearby houses. Apirak earlier visited the city?s eastern areas and found that almost 100,000 rai of farmland and fishponds were damaged by floodwaters. Samai Chareonchang, deputy chairman of a watchdog panel that keeps an eye on the BMA, said flooding on the eastern side resulted from construction at Suvarnabhumi Airport, that had filled up three canals in Lat Kra Bang district to build a runway. As a result, floodwater could not effectively drain into Prawetburiram Canal as before. The Meteorological Depart-ment yesterday evening issued a warning to residents in the northern and upper northeastern regions to be on alert for heavy rains and flash floods for a few more days. Separately, department chief Supareuk Tansriratanawong said the agency would start a free service to give weather reports via mobile phones SMS messages from Thursday on, and people could also log on to www.tmd.go.th for real-time weather updates. The Nation Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flashermac Posted September 21, 2005 Report Share Posted September 21, 2005 Just started pissing down in Bangkok about 10 minutes ago. Has Hurricane Lek finally arrived??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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