Sa Kaeo storm results in ‘unprecedented’ damage

Sa Kaeo storm results in ‘unprecedented’ damage

BACK OF THE NET:A large fish trap is deployed in Ubolratana dam in Ban Thalat of Nong Saeng district of Nong Bua Lam Phu. The Thailand Meteorological Department has indicated various dams in Thailand will receive substantial inflow next week as heavy rain is expected due to the combined effects of the southwestern monsoon and southeastern winds. (Photo by Pattarapong Chatpattarasill)
BACK OF THE NET:A large fish trap is deployed in Ubolratana dam in Ban Thalat of Nong Saeng district of Nong Bua Lam Phu. The Thailand Meteorological Department has indicated various dams in Thailand will receive substantial inflow next week as heavy rain is expected due to the combined effects of the southwestern monsoon and southeastern winds. (Photo by Pattarapong Chatpattarasill)

Sa Kaeo province in the lower-eastern region was on Saturday hit by heavy rain which caused severe damage in nine districts.

Dozens of electricity poles and large trees were felled, many of which landed on houses and cars in the area. Blackouts were numerous and the blocked roads resulted in severe traffic jams.

“It was an unprecedented phenomenon for our province,” Wichit Chatphaisit, governor of Sa Kaeo province told the media on Saturday while supervising officials to collect debris caused by the storm on Friday.

Several hundred military officers from Aranyaprathet-based 19th Military Circle, district chiefs, kamnan (tambon chiefs), village heads, local officials and volunteers were instructed to help residents and survey the damage ahead of a restoration plan being drawn up.

Sa Kaeo is one of the provinces in Thailand bearing the brunt from the Mun tropical storm that made landfall in northern Vietnam last week.

Clear skies are predicted for the weekend, but Phuwiang Prakhammin, chief of the Thailand Meteorological Department, warned that storms will return tomorrow for the rest of the week due to the combined effects of the southwestern monsoon and southeastern winds.

As a result, heavy rain is expected in 60% of the eastern region, as well as Sa Kaeo, the Northeast, the South and Bangkok next week, he warned.

Meanwhile, deputy Bangkok governor Jakkraphan Phewngam on Saturday said the new underground pipe for the flood-prone Lat Phrao area will start draining water next week.

The 3.7-kilometre pipe will divert water to the Kaem Ling, a natural flood retention zone in Lat Phrao Soi 71. The system will also drain water out into the nearby canal network, according to deputy governor Jakkraphan.

It can carry water from the pond, with a capacity of 83,000 cubic metres, to Khlong Sue Noi where water will be drained out via two adjacent canals — Khlong Lat Phrao and Khlong Chan.

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