The NDRC urged people in areas at risk downstream of the Chao Phraya Dam to move their belongings to higher ground. Meanwhile, the Royal Irrigation Department is continuously expediting the drainage of water from Chiang Mai before it flows into Saraphi District and some sub-districts of Lamphun Province. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education has extended the repair period for appliances in Mae Sai until the middle of this month.
Mr. Jirayu Huangsap, advisor to the Prime Minister and spokesman of the Flood, Storm and Landslide Relief Operation Center (FLOC) and the Forward CPOC in Chiang Rai Province, reminded people in low-lying areas along the Chao Phraya Dam in 11 provinces to closely monitor the water situation after the Chao Phraya Dam adjusted the water discharge rate to 2,200 cubic meters per second from 4:00 p.m. today (6 Oct 67) and will continue to discharge water at the same rate. In particular, the risk areas in 7 provinces, namely Khlong Phong Pheng, Khlong Bang Ban, Mae Nam Noi, and low-lying ar
eas outside the embankment in Chai Nat Province, Sapphaya District and Wat Sing (Phonang Dam Tok Subdistrict), Mueang Sing Buri, Phrom Buri, and In Buri Districts (Wat Sing, Wat Suea Kham), Sing Buri Province, Pa Mok District and Chaiyo (Chaiyo Temple), Ang Thong Province, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya District, Bang Ban, Phak Hai (Lat Chit Subdistrict, Tha Din Daeng Subdistrict), and Sena (Hua Wiang Subdistrict), Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province, Mueang Pathum Thani District and Sam Khok District, Pathum Thani Province, Pak Kret District (Tha It Subdistrict), Mueang Nonthaburi District (Sai ??Ma Subdistrict and Bang Phai Subdistrict), Nonthaburi Province, should move belongings to higher ground and closely follow news from government agencies. Relevant officials are ready to provide assistance to the public with full force.
‘Notifying the people in the areas of Chai Nat, Sing Buri, Ang Thong, Suphan Buri, Pathum Thani, Nonthaburi, Uthai Thani, Lop Buri, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Bangkok and Samut Prakan, especi
ally in the 7 risk areas, all provinces have been coordinated to prepare to deal with the situation in advance. Ask the people to move their belongings to higher ground and closely follow news from government agencies. Emphasize that people who need help can report to the hotline 1567, 24 hours a day, where officers will mobilize to help alleviate the suffering of the people as soon as possible.’
Regarding the news that a large mass of water is spreading along various routes, Mr. Jirayu said that ONWR and the Royal Irrigation Department explained that the current water situation in Chiang Mai Province is decreasing. It is expected that the water level will return to the banks tomorrow (October 7). This amount of water will continue to flow into Saraphi District and into Tambon Umong, Mueang District, Lamphun Province, into the Mae Kuang River, then flow through Lamphun City before flowing back into the Ping River again at Ban Sop Tha, Pa Sang District. Currently, there is flooding in some areas of Saraphi Di
strict, Chiang Mai Province, such as Tambon Nong Phueng, with the water level approximately 0.8-1.50 meters high. Chiang Mai Province and related agencies have installed water pumps in areas with flooding. Speed ??up water drainage to lower areas. In Muang Lamphun District (Subdistricts Mueang Nga, Umong, Rim Ping, Pratu Pa, Wiang Yong, Nong Chang Khuen, Ton Thong, Ban Paen), Lamphun Province, the water level is already approximately 0.3-0.5 meters high. It is predicted that the highest flood level in low-lying areas of Lamphun Province may be as high as 0.8-1.5 meters. The Royal Irrigation Department has removed weeds in waterways and prepared to install water pumps to speed up water drainage in the area, so that it can drain water at the same rate as Chiang Mai Province pumps water down.
For travel on the northern route, the service has been adjusted due to the widespread flooding in Chiang Mai. Mr. Chirayu said that the State Railway of Thailand has designated passenger pick-up and drop-off points at Nakh
on Lampang Station, Lamphun Station, and Arcade Bus Station (Old) in Chiang Mai Province. The northern line only provides service on the Krungthep Aphiwat-Nakhon Lampang-Krungthep Aphiwat route because Chiang Mai Station has been affected by the flooding. At this time, it is not open for service. Passengers who do not wish to travel on the Nakhon Lampang-Chiang Mai-Nakhon Lampang route can request a refund at any station nationwide. For more information, please contact the Customer Service Center at 1690 or the 24-hour PR Team of the State Railway of Thailand Facebook fan page. It is expected that normal service will be resumed in 2 days.
Mr. Jirayu also mentioned about helping people and restoring flood-stricken areas in Chiang Rai Province that officials from all sectors are still performing their duties to help people affected by the flood in the area continuously, especially in Mae Sai District, which was flooded again. The Ministry of Education has opened a vocational volunteer center to help people at
Wat Phasukaram, Ban Mai Lung Khan, and the Mueang Daeng community, Mae Sai Subdistrict, to provide repair services for electrical appliances and motorcycles damaged by the flood. Today (6 October 2014), Pol. Gen. Phermpoon Chidchob, Minister of Education, visited the center to follow up on its operations and found that people have been continuously receiving services. Therefore, the service hours have been extended until 15 October.
‘After the Ministry of Education opened the electrical appliance and motorcycle repair center, it was very well received and created much satisfaction among the public. Originally, the center was going to be closed tomorrow (October 7), but there is a plan to extend the service hours until October 15 to help the public as much as possible and may extend the hours further,’ said Mr. Jirayu.
The chairman of the Forward Command Center monitors the construction of knockdown houses at the Karen Village in Chiang Rai Province.
Mr. Jirayu also said that today (October 6, 67), Ms. Thir
at Rattanawanich, Deputy Minister of Interior, as the Chairwoman of the Forward Operation Center for Flood, Storm and Landslide Victims (Front Operation Center) in Chiang Rai Province, visited the area to monitor the construction of knock-down houses for flood victims at Ban Karen Ruammit, Mueang Chiang Rai District, after several houses were damaged by the overflowing Kok River. Pol. Col. Thawee Sodsong, Minister of Justice, ordered Chiang Rai Central Prison to bring officials and prisoners who are about to be released to jointly build knock-down houses for flood victims. The goal is to complete the first house on October 15 and will expedite the construction of subsequent houses to alleviate the suffering of flood victims.
Mobilize a team to help care for the health of elephants in the elephant care center.
Mr. Jirayu added that the veterinary team of the National Elephant Institute under the patronage of the Royal Forestry Industry Organization, together with agencies under the Ministry of Natural Resour
ces and Environment (MNRE) in Chiang Mai Province, went to help elephants at the Elephant Care Center in Tambon Kuet Chang, Amphoe Mae Taeng, Chiang Mai Province after the water level in the area receded. There were 116 elephants left (106 females, 10 males) out of 118 elephants. Initially, all of them were in good condition, but there was a plan to rehabilitate and monitor diseases after the flood. In addition, a team of veterinarians provided advice to elephant camps along the river and helped treat elephants if they became sick, as well as providing food and elephant control equipment for the two elephants that fell. The cause was that they were swept away by the current and hit rocks until they drowned. Their remains were found in the water tunnel, as reported in the news
Source: Thai News Agency