Soldiers, officials work hard as runoff swamps Nakhon Sawan
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Residents told to evacuate even though water levels still 30 centimetres lower than Chao Phraya
Though soldiers from the Third Army Region have been working nonstop for many days to slow down the water gushing into Nakhon Sawan, it will still take at least 15 days to pump the water out of the municipal area, the governor said yesterday.
Governor Chairote Meedaeng said yesterday that the water level in the city area was still 30 centimetres lower than the Chao Phraya River, but it is expected to rise to the same level soon.
As soon as the runoff in Nakhon Sawan can be controlled, the military will use sandbags to fix broken barriers, he said. He added that almost 8,000 people had moved to 11 evacuation centres, which could accommodate 30,000 people.
Chavalit Pongsittisak, chief of the Nakhon Sawan provincial disaster prevention and mitigation office, advised residents to move to evacuation centres yesterday so officers can handle the situation.
Chairote’s deputy, Sak Somboonto, said a steel bridge had been set up from the Dechatiwong Bridge to City Hall allowing people to commute more easily. However, the neck of Dechatiwong Bridge, a key thoroughfare for the province, is damaged and safety has become a concern.
Mayor Chittakasem Nirotethanarat said the facility housing the provincial water mains was flooded and out of order, though repairs were ongoing.
Part of a dyke collapsed late on Thursday night, allowing water from the Ping River to flood Woranart Banpot Temple and Paknampo market. People were advised to evacuate as the water is expected to rise to a metre high.
The City Hall, provincial prison, Nakhon Sawan Rajabhat University and the markets were under a metre and a half of water, while water reached houses’ roofs in some areas.
Meanwhile, provincial police commander Pol MajGeneral Chadin Prompaiboon had papers moved from his office to the second floor as the water was at chesthigh level.
On behalf of His Majesty the King, Disathorn Watcharothai, chairman of the Rajaprajanugroh Foundation, donated floodrelief items to 5,000 families in five of the province’s evacuation centres.
Since there was no electricity or water supply, Kamphaeng Phet’s groundwater office and the provincial waterworks office supplied clean water to Nakhon Sawan evacuation centres.
Chamroen Sangkaworn, who is in charge of the province’s power supply, said officers had to cut off electricity in some flooded areas for people’s safety.
So far, two people have drowned and another was electrocuted.
Provincial public health chief Buares Sripratak said all hospitals were out of service, and the inpatients had been evacuated to hospitals within a 120kilometre radius since Monday.
Eleven patients in critical condition were moved to betterequipped hospitals by air on Thursday and 30 more were evacuated yesterday, he said. More evacuations would be considered on a casebycase basis.
Outpatient and emergency services are available at a temporary centre near the Paholyothin junction.
Meanwhile, Nan residents and redshirt supporters in Lamphun have held separate events to raise funds for Nakhon Sawan flood victims.
