Landslides kill six, more flooding forecast

Disaster Management Policyand Technology Center

Management - Cooperation - Work together

0:0:0, 10/09/2011 Six people are confirmed dead and another person is missing following landslides in three villages triggered by heavy rainfall last night, Uttaradit Provincial Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office chief Surachai Chatkawin said on Friday.

The landslides hit moo 2, 3 and 4 in tambon Nam Phai of Uttaradit's Nam Pat district, and damaged five houses in the villages, Mr Surachai said.

Disaster Relief Centre director Panu Yaemsiri said people in 14 central and northeastern provinces are still affected by flood.

Mr Panu said widespread flooding has so far affected more than 465,000 people in 2,568 villages of altogether 14 provinces.

Photo by Tawatchai Kemgumnerd

The 14 provinces are Sukhothai, Phichit, Phitsanulok, Nakhon Sawan, Ayutthaya, Ang Thong, Chai Nat, Singburi, Nakhon Pathom, Suphan Buri, Nonthaburi, Chachoengsao, Uthai Thani and Ubon Ratchathani.

A total of 72 people have been killed in flood-related incidents and about 3.7 million rai of farmland have been damaged, said Mr Panu.

At the same time, water levels have increased in the Ping river basin, the Nan river basin, the Prachin Buri river basin, the Chi river basin, the Moon river basin and the Chao Phraya river basin.

The Meteorological Department forecasts heavy rain in northern, northeastern, central and eastern provinces from Sept 9 to 12.

The department warned people living in risk areas in Trat, Chanthaburi, Mae Hong Son and Phitsanulok provinces to be aware of possible flash foods and mudslides.

Labour permanent secretary Somkiat Chayasriwong said about 6,700 employees of 27 businesses have had serious problems this week because of the flooding in the central provinces.

Mr Somkiat said the Labour Ministry's workers' assistance centres located along the river basins in the central region reported the number of flood-hit workers from Monday to Wednesday this week.

The ministry had coordinated the efforts of government agencies in providing them assistance, including the distribution of essential commodities and loans for house repairs.

He said the ministry had already approved house repair loans for 190 workers, worth a total of 9.5 million baht.

After the flood, the ministry will offer vocational rehabilitation services to workers who lost their jobs because of floods, the permanent secretary said.