Sukhothai hit by 2nd flood | Bangkok Post: learning

General news

A second flood hit Sukhothai municipality yesterday as floodwaters threaten additional areas downstream. Yom river levels are down this morning, however, and Sukhothai commercial area is largely open for business.

Please join us on our facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/bangkokpostlearning

Early yesterday, water again began pouring through a breach in the Sukhothai municipality floodwall that had been repaired days earlier. TAWATCHAI KEMGUMNERD

Morning update: Sukhothai governor Chakkrin Plienwong, interviewed on Thai PBS this morning, said Yom river levels had started to fall and the situation in the province should slowly improve as a result. The second round of flooding in the municipality itself was much less extensive than the first and the main market is open for business

Click button to listen to Round2 and rightclick to download

Sukhothai hit by 2nd flood

Wall of water nearing 3 Phitsanulok districts
 
Patsara Jikkham 
Chinnawat Singha

A second flood hit Sukhothai municipality yesterday, just as residents were starting to clean up and return to their daily business.

The deluge was caused by breaches in the floodwall and the overflowing Yom River north of the flood barrier.

Sukhothai residents wade through a street that had just been cleaned the day before. Fortunately, this time, the water has been confined to a much smaller part of the town. TAWATCHAI KEMGUMNERD

The water flowed into Jarodwithee Road and flooded some residential areas. The floodwater was about 50cm high on average.

Workers yesterday tried to repair the breaches and pump water out of the area.

Mayor Pichet Thaikla said the water leaked under the barrier before flowing into the municipal area.

However, the situation was under control and did not call for any evacuations, he said.

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Preecha Rengsomboonsuk said a top priority was to monitor and maintain the water level in the Yom River.

Mr Preecha yesterday inspected the flood barrier along the river.

A novice monk moves a chair away from rushing floodwaters yesterday at Wat Ratchathani in Muang district, Sukhothai. The temple is situated next to theYom River, which overflowed its banks. TAWATCHAI KEMGUMNERD

He said the situation was likely to return to normal soon because the water was flowing into the municipality at 400 cubic metres per minute, down from 1,200 cubic metres of water per minute.

He said authorities would accelerate the drainage of water as soon as water levels in the river receded.

Coming soon: Thailand submerged, the Bangkok Post's coverage of the Great Floods of 2011 with special help for English language learners, including vocabulary, Thai explanations and sound files.

"The situation should improve soon. It is not that serious because the volume of water in the river is half of last year," he said.

Authorities in Phitsanulok yesterday advised residents in three districts – Phrom Phiram, Muang and Bang Rakam – to brace themselves for rising river water.

The floodwater level in the three districts, which are already submerged, was likely to increase by another 50-70cm. In some low-lying areas the water level might rise to over 1 metre.

Governor Chairoj Meedaeng said the second mass of water was expected to reach the province in a day or two.

Residents living along the riverbank have been strongly urged to move their belongings to high ground.

The three districts were flooded after Sukhothai sped up drainage of water in the municipality through the Yom River.

Her Majesty the Queen yesterday donated 931 sets of flood relief supplies to residents in Phrom Phiram and Bang Rakam districts.

About 22,500 rai of farmland in the two districts and about 1,000 households were inundated.

Meanwhile, Science and Technology Minister Plodprasop Surasawadi yesterday expressed confidence that a flood disaster would be averted this year.

He said the government faced two challenges in flood management – the water, and the people's fear of a repetition of last year's flooding.

"There is nothing we can't handle. We have the experience. I don't think there's anything we can't manage," he added.

breach – a break through or over something รอยแตก, การข้าม, การทำให้แตก
municipality – a town, city or district with its own local government เทศบาล
repair – to fix something that is broken or damaged ซ่อมบำรุง
level – the amount of liquid that there is in a container, river, dam, etc., which can be seen by how high the liquid is ระดับ
improve – to get better  ดีขึ้น
extensive – great in amount; covering a large area กว้างขวาง
residents – people who live in a particular area ประชาชนที่อาศัยในท้องที่
deluge – a sudden flow of a large amount of water; a sudden, very heavy rainfall น้ำปริมาณมาก ฝนตกหนัก
overflow – (of a river or body of water)  to flood the land next to it เอ่อล้น, ไหลล้น
barrier – a wall, pile of sandbags, etc., that prevents water from entering สิ่งกีดขวาง
wade – to walk with an effort through something, especially water or mud ลุย เดินท่องน้ำ หรือ โคลน
fortunately – used for emphasizing that something good has happened, especially because of good luck  อย่างโชคดี, อย่างเคราะห์ดี
confined – limited จำกัด
average – the amount, level, standard etc that is typical of a group of people or things; typical; ordinary ค่าเฉลี่ย, ส่วนเฉลี่ย
mayor – the most important elected official in a town or city นายกเทศมนตรี
leak – (of a liquid or gas) to flow out of a hole or crack รั่ว
evacuation – moving people from a place of danger to a safer place การอพยพ
natural resources –  things such as coal, trees, wildlife and oil that exist in nature and can be used by people ทรัพยากรธรรมชาติ
environment – a place, including all the physical conditions that affect it สภาพแวดล้อม, สิ่งแวดล้อม
priority – something important that needs to be done first or needs more attention than anything else สิ่งที่สำคัญที่สุดเป็นอันดับแรก
monitor – to regularly check someone/something จับตาดู เฝ้าระมัดระวัง
maintain – to keep รักษา
inspect – to look at something carefully ตรวจสอบ
novice – someone who has entered a religious community but is not yet a full member สามเณร
situated – located ตั้งอยู่ที่
authorities – people who have the power to make decisions or enforce the law เจ้าหน้าที่ผู้มีอำนาจ
accelerate – to happen or make something happen at a faster rate เร่ง, เร่งความเร็ว, เพิ่มความเร็ว
drainage – the process of taking away of water or other liquids from an area  การระบายน้ำ
recede – to move back; to move further away into the distance; subside ลดลง, ถอยหลัง
volume – an amount of something ปริมาณ
brace – to get ready for something unpleasant เตรียม
submerged – under water  จมน้ำ อยู่ใต้น้ำ
mass – a large amount of something ปริมาณมาก
riverbank – the land at the side of a river  ฝั่งแม่น้ำ, ตลิ่ง
belongings – the things you own ข้าวของเครื่องใช้
donate – to give something such as money or goods to an organisation, especially to a charity, school, political party, etc. บริจาค
relief – money, food, medicine etc. that is given to help people in places where there has been a natural disaster, war, etc. เครื่องบรรเทาสาธารณภัย
supplies – the things such as food, medicines, fuel, etc. that are needed by a group of people สิ่งที่จัดหาให้, เสบียง, เวชภัณฑ์
inundated – flooded ถูกน้ำท่วม, จมลงใต้น้ำ
confidence – being certain of your abilities or of having trust in people, plans, or the future ความมั่นใจ
disaster – something very bad that happens and causes a lot of damage or kills a lot of people  ความหายนะ  ภัยพิบัติ
avert – to prevent something bad or harmful from happening ป้องกันไม่ให้เกิด
challenge – something that needs a lot of skill, energy, and determination to deal with or achieve สิ่งที่ท้าทาย, การท้าทาย
repetition – something that happens in the same way as an earlier event  การเกิดซ้ำ
handle – to be able deal with a situation ควบคุมได้, เอาอยู่, จัดการได้

Tell us what you think about this article

Like dislike 0 people liked / 0 people disliked it

Share this article

0

0

• More +

• Republishing permission
• Print this

Bangkok Post online classifieds

Try buying & selling goods and properties 24/7 in our classifieds which has high purchasing power local & expatriate audience from within Thailand and around the world.