BANGKOK, 7 May 2019 (NNT) – Nong Khai province last night has been hit by summer thunderstorms causing damages to houses in many areas. Volunteers and military officials are now assisting victims.

Administrative officials in Si Chiang Mai district, Nong Khai province, along with local volunteers and provincial military officials are now assisting villagers whose houses have been damaged from summer thunderstorms which hit Phra Phutthabat subdistrict, especially the house of a 77-year-old Mrs Lub Rattanamongkol whose house was almost entirely damaged, and a 48-year-old Mrs Lamduan Saengsawang whose the roof of the house has been completely blown away. The officials have also collected debris and housing parts blown with the storms onto roads obstructing the traffic.

Three districts in Nong Khai have been affected from summer thunderstorms last night, namely Si Chiang Mai, Tha Bo, and Pho Tak districts. 66 houses have been reported damaged, 44 of which are in Si Chiang Mai district, 12 in Pho Tak, and 10 in Tha Bo district. The storms have also damaged 5 rais of farms. Related agencies and local administrative organizations are now providing assistance to disaster victims.

In Sisaket province, officials from related agencies have visited Ban Sam Khilek durain farm in Pran subdistrict, Khun Han district, to assist farmers whose durian farm has been affected from the storms on 26 April 2019, bringing down durian trees. Sisaket province’s Ministry Of Interior’s Ladies Association President Chutiporn Wichitsaengsri has delivered cash to farmers from Chok Som Pong and Mae Ngern durian farms, which have been severely affected from the disaster.

Source link

Cabinet meeting approves budget for 144 projects to increase the number of catchments to alleviate drought crisis

As it is predicted that the amount of rain this year will be less than that of last year, the cabinet meeting today approved a mid-year budget of about 1.22 billion baht for 144 projects to increase the number of catchments and the quantity of water stored, to lessen the impact of drought.

The cabinet has approved a 2019 mid-year budget of 1.22 billion baht, seeking to increase the number of catchments and the amount of water available, to alleviate the annual drought crisis, as well as store a greater quantity of water in the rainy season. The Office of National Water Resources (ONWR) has proposed that the target area be determined and 10 relevant agencies be invited to a meeting to discuss immediate solutions to the drought crisis. As a mid-term solution to the problem, the target areas are divided into four types of drought-affected provinces. With 18 provinces at risk, there are water shortage risk areas in non-irrigated zones in nine provinces, and drought-prone areas in 11 provinces. The projects must be completed in 90 days.

Ubonrat Dam in Khon Kaen currently contains 586 million cubic meters of water. Over five million cubic meters of water, equivalent to zero percent can be used for consumption, so water drainage has to be reduced to 500,000 cubic meters of water per day to help preserve the ecosystem.

Khon Kaen Provincial Committee of the Water Management Committee, has therefore arranged to use water from the bottom of the dam next week, until it rains. It is expected that up to 120 million cubic meters of water will be needed.

In Nakhon Si Thammarat, the 4th Army Area delivered 1500-liter water tanks to the Nakhon Si Thammarat Community Karnkheha Village in Pak Phun subdistrict, after the leader of villagers submitted a complaint to the Damrongtham Center saying that nearly 500 households in the community are faced with a shortage in water for consumption.

The 4th Army Area also brought eight water trucks containing over 50,000 liters of water to be distributed to the public in order to provide initial assistance to them. The villagers in the community thanked the 4th Army Area, Nakhon Si Thammarat and other agencies for their help.

Royal rainmaking operations in Nakhon Si Thammarat resulted in rain in 40 percent of the area for two consecutive days which benefited agricultural areas, increased the volume of water in various streams, especially upstream areas in Luang Mountain and should relieve the symtoms of drought for a while.

Source link