16 provinces facing threat of flooding and landslides: MRD

Uttaradit, Phitsanulok, Phetchabun, Nan, Mae Hong Son, Chanthaburi, Trad, Satun, Krabi, Trang, Chumphon, and Songkhla face the threat of flash floods and mudslides, according to Lerdsin Raksasakulwong, director of the Mineral Resources Department's Geology Office.

"The department has instructed its network to monitor the amount of rainfall everyday," he said, adding: "If the amount of rainfall exceeds 60 millimetres or the colour of a river has changed, they should inform villagers to evacuate to safe places immediately."

Lerdsin explained the background to the landslide incident that took place at Uttaradit province's Tambon Nam Phai on last Friday which killed five people and left three unaccounted for.

He said this tambon was situated in a potential landslide and flash flood area surrounded by a mountainous valley, slopes, waterways, and degraded forest.

Previously, the department had designated this area as risky and prone to slides and flooding.

Over 165 villages in Uttaradit province are still at risk from landslides - with Lab Lae district facing the highest danger.

Natural Resources and Environment Ministry's permanent secretary Chote Trachoo said Ton Khanon village in Uttaradit province's Nam Pad district, where a disastrous landslide killed at least 3 people, was not designated a landslide and flash flood risk area. As a result there were no early warning messages sent out to people living there.

"I have ordered the Mineral Resources Department to survey the other landslide risk areas in Uttaradit province and ask the department to team up with the Water Resources Department to create a better warning network," he said.

To date, only three districts in Uttaradit province - including Amphoe Moung, Lab Lae, and Ta Pla - were designated as landslide and flash flood areas. Tambon Mae Phool in Lab Lae district had been hit by a landslide in May 2006. Nam Pad district was not on the landslide risk area list.

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Preecha Rengsomboonsuk said Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra had asked the ministry and Royal Forest Department to record degraded forest areas and allow people affected by flash floods and landslides to relocate. Many had complained to the PM they wanted to move away from these high risk areas.

About 40 houses in Ban Ton Khanon have been hit by falling rocks, landslides, and flash flooding recently.

"The ministry will ask the cabinet to allow flood and landslide affected people to rent degraded forest reserves in Uttaradit province," he said.

However, he added the slides and floods in the province were not caused by deforestation.