Rush to 'bag' heart of Sukhothai

Crews rushed to pack “big bags” in a gap in the Yom River flood barrier last night to stem serious flooding in the heart of Sukhothai.
“We’ll be working all night until the big bags can plug the hole,” Sukhothai Governor Jakkarin Plianwong said.
In some spots, water was more than a metre deep. Electricity had to be cut off in some areas for safety reasons.
Muang Sukhothai Thani mayor Pichet Thaikla said it was very likely the repair would need at least 100 more big bags, which weigh over a tonne each.
Many Sukhothai residents were forced to move to higher ground on boats provided by border patrol police. More than 100 soldiers were also dispatched to help flood victims in badly hit communities.

FARMS IN PHITSANULOK FLOODED
In neighbouring Phitsanulok, more than 4,000 rai of farmland in Bang Rakam district was already submerged. More than 2,000 rai of farmland in Phrom Phiram district was also affected.
Many areas of Angthong and Phichit were also under water.
Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra convened an urgent meeting to discuss the latest water situation, as many provinces will be struggling with floods today.
“In fact, the Yom River in Sukhothai is still much lower than the floodwall. The problem is that the strong currents eroded a part of the barrier,” said Royol Chitdon, director of the Hydro and Agro Infomatics Institute and a member of a subcommittee of the Water and Flood Management Committee.
Officials in Sukhothai had to seal the hole in the floodwall quickly, he said.
Emerging from the meeting, Interior Minister Yongyuth Wichaidit said officials had already assessed the water situation and found that overall it was not worrying.
“Only the Yom River had problems. It’s because there is no dam connected to it yet,” he said.
Lertwiroj Kowattana, head of the Irrigation Department, said large dams such as Bhumibol and Sirikit should be able to take the runoff from rainstorms upriver.
“But for downriver zones, flash floods may strike some areas.”
Public Health Minister Witthaya Buranasiri said mobile medical teams had already been sent to flood-hit provinces to provide basic care.
Over 600 people were seeking help from them daily.
“Most of them have caught a cold,” he said.
People could call 1669 around the clock if they need emergency medical help or have been bitten by a snake.
PM Yingluck will make a field trip to check the water situation on Thursday but had not yet decided which area she would visit, he said.