THAILAND: Worst floods in two decades in ancient city of Ayutthaya force residents to evacuate

Record ID: 783312

  • Title: THAILAND: Worst floods in two decades in ancient city of Ayutthaya force residents to evacuate
  • Date: 8th October 2011
  • Summary: VARIOUS OF HEAVY FLOWING WATER CROSSING ON HIGHWAY VARIOUS OF CARS DRIVING ON FLOODED HIGHWAY VARIOUS OF SUBMERGED POSTER OF PRIME MINISTER YINGLUCK AND HER PARTY MEMBER OUTSIDE A FLOODED COMMUNITY
  • Embargoed: 23rd October 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Thailand, Thailand
  • Country: Thailand
  • Topics: Disasters,Environment
  • Reuters ID: LVADBM0K23QQLJK9EMNS721YOF6E
  • Story Text: The worst floods in two decades continued to inundate the ancient city of Ayutthaya, forcing thousands to evacuate in central Thailand on Friday (October 7) morning.
    Thailand's Department of Prevention and Mitigation said on Friday that at least 252 people have been killed from the floods since mid-July.
    Another 167 have died in neighboring Cambodia and 15 in Vietnam in what a United Nations agency said was the worst flooding to hit parts of Southeast Asia in 50 years.
    Flood waters destroyed at least two embankments in Ayutthaya province, 105 km (65 miles) north of Bangkok.
    Some homeowners were building sand bag barriers to prevent waters from entering their houses.
    Some residents said the floods took them by surprise.
    "It's never been this flooded in this village. I've been living here more than 20 years and this is the first time it flooded like this," said Chaiya Rungroj, a 47-year-old tour operator.
    Evacuees rushed to higher ground, carrying their salvaged belongings on boats.
    Thailand has been hit by a tropical storm Nock-Ten since mid-July, followed by several seasonal monsoons.
    Officials said water levels reached to a depth of nearly two to three metres in some areas in Ayutthaya.
    The country's Meteorological Department said they expect more rains for two to three days.
    Dams are struggling to cope with the flow of water caused by unusually heavy monsoon rain, which normally falls from August to October.
    Director general of the Irrigation Department, Chalit Damrongsak, said water would have to be released from the Bhumibol dam in Tak province 420 km (260 miles) northwest of Bangkok, which was 97 percent full, even though that would add to problems further down the Ping river.
    The Centre for Economic and Business Forecasting, part of the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, said on Thursday (October 6) it had cut its forecast for GDP growth this year to 3.6 percent from 4.4 percent due to flooding in agricultural and industrial areas.
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