Kalasin declares disaster zones in 11 districts

KALASIN, July 31 (TNA) – The northeastern province of Kalasin declared 11 districts disaster zones hit by floods as many provinces in the Chi River basin remain under water. Director of the Lampao Water Supply and Maintenance Project in Kalasin, Ruechai Champanin said that the Lampao dam received mass of water from Udon Thani and Sakon Nakhon, so officials needed to increase water discharge from the Lampao dam, which is now holding about 1.6 billion cubic metres of water or about 80 per cent of its capacity. The dam is now releasing about 20 million cubic metre a day, so people, living downstream in five districts along the Lampao River need to monitor the water level closely. In Chaiyaphum, the water from a local dam overflowed its spillway to submerge two districts. The floodwater is as high as 1-3 metres in some areas. According to an initial survey, about 8,000 rai (3,200 acres) of farmlands have been under water. About 180 houses in Chatturat district have been flooded Provincial governor led officials to distribute relief supplies to flood victims, where their houses have been cut off from the outside world. Local authorities cut the power during the flood, which could prolong for another three weeks. In Nakhon Ratchasima’s Pratai ประทาย district, the water from the Chi River overflowed its banks to flood about 150 villages and about 12,000 rai (4,800 acres) of paddy fields are under water. Air Force officials used flat-bottomed boats to hand out relief supplies to villagers, stranded in their homes. (TNA)