Kalasin faced with serious situation as wall gives way

The situation in the northeastern province of Kalasin remained critical as flood barriers along Chi River gave way, letting in water and leading to the subsequent evacuation of 2,000 families in Kamalasai and Khong Chai districts.
Several sections of the flood barriers along Chi River running through Yang Talad, Khong Chai and Kamalasai districts were ruptured, especially Kamalasai that saw six 100-metre-long sections breached. So far, about 400 soldiers plus 500 officials and volunteers have managed to repair three of them while they were deterred by the strong torrents at the other three locations. The flood water poured into 2,000 homes in Tambon Chao Than, Thanya, Dong Ling in Kamalasai district and Tambon Lam Chi in Khong Chai district.
Kalasin Governor Wiroj Jiwarangsan ordered emergency evacuation while some 100,000 rai of farmlands were inundated. The main road from Kamalasai to Roi Et became impassable with flood waters almost a metre deep. Warnings were issued that if officials couldn’t fix the floodwall, the rest of Khong Chai and Kamalasai districts would be submerged in four weeks.
Wiroj said the barrier bust was due to the Ubolrat Dam releasing 40-50 million cubic metres of water per day in the past 10 days. He said the province’s 38km-long flood barrier along Chi River had withstood flood waters last year but this year it couldn’t, so he had set up foundation pillars and metal sheet piles to strengthen it hence the problem should be solved in 5-7 days.
In Buri Ram, Mul River continued to rise and yesterday caused Chi River to flood thousands of rai of rice fields and houses of 10 villages in Sateuk and Krasang districts. Two villages were marooned as main roads were under water more than a metre high.
In Nakhon Ratchasima’s Pimai district, Mul riverside homes were hit by 70cm-deep flood while Suranaree University of Technology in Muang district sent 80 flat-bottomed boats to assist flood victims in the Central provinces.