Tropical storm Noul was downgraded to a depression and was set to dissipate yesterday, leaving behind a trail of destruction in much of the country while also replenishing many major dams, according to the Interior Ministry.

Emergency response teams were deployed in wide areas across 18 provinces with Nakhon Ratchasima, the commercial heart of the Northeast, reporting large-scale damage to farmland and private properties.

Noul's presence was felt late on Friday evening, triggering intermittent heavy rains in the Northeast, the North, the East, the South and the Central Plains provinces. The wet weather continued well into yesterday with flooding and gutsy winds prompting the disaster mitigation officers in various provinces to work around the clock to get across help to affected residents.

However, the storm, which weakened into a tropical depression over Sukhothai as it tracked further inland after having made landfall in Vietnam towards the end of the week, boosted many reservoirs and dams where water in storage had receded to the dry spells.

The storm was forecast to exit through the northwest of the country.

Meteorological Department chief Somsak Khaosuwan said Noul was a blessing as it raised water levels in the Yom, Chee, Chao Phraya and Pasak river basins and pushed up water reserves in the Ubolrat and Sirikit dams.

The rainfall also raised the Pasak Jolasid dam's water storage by 3.9 million cubic metres or 7% of capacity. In Kalasin, water in Lampao dam, previously only 38% full, was surging. In Nakhon Ratchasima, the storm dumped 17.9 million cubic metres of water in the main dams at Lam Ta Kong, Lam Phra Ploeng, Lam Moon Bon and Lam Sae as well as 23 medium-sized reservoirs.

The Office of the National Water Resources (ONWR) said Noul was expected to bring 1.14 billion cu/m of water to 35 dams and reservoirs nationwide.

Chayapol Thitisak, director-general of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, said yesterday the storm unleashed a series of floods, strong winds and landslides in many parts of the country.

It initially affected 10 provinces before expanding to 13 by early afternoon yesterday -- Khon Kaen, Ubon Ratchathani, Roi Et, Maha Sarakham, Surin, Sri Sa Ket, Chanthaburi, Trat, Ranong, Phangnga, Mukdahan, Prachin Buri, Tak, Nakhon Ratchasima, Udon Thani, Trang, Chaiyaphum and Phetchaburi. Altogether 45 districts and 86 villages were affected by the storm.

Mr Chayapol said the department has opened a 1784 hotline to respond to the emergency and receive calls from stricken residents.

Military units worked hand in hand with the local officials and the Interior Ministry to aid residents whose homes were inundated by flash floods. Rescuers raced against time as they took residents' personal belongings to higher ground.

They also handed out food and house repair equipment to families while surveying the extent of the damage in the villages. Results of the survey are used to calculate amounts of state compensation to be given out to the families.

Meanwhile, the Highways Department yesterday said seven roads -- two in Nakhon Ratchasima, three in Sri Sa Ket and one each in Phetchabun and Ranong -- were flooded although they remained passable to traffic.

In Nakhon Ratchasima, the heavy rain which pounded Khao Yai National Park on Friday night forced the temporarily closure of the park yesterday.

On Facebook, the park announced the closure of the two main entries to the park complex, one from the Nakhon Ratchasima's Pak Chong district and the other from Prachin Buri's Noen Horm checkpoint. The storm caused obstructions on sections of a road leading to the park.

Relief bags containing emergency supplies were distributed to residents in Muang district where up to 200 milimetres of rain was measured on Friday night.

Flood areas include road outside the Suranaree army camp, the governor's residence, Hua Thaley intersection, Nong Sanoh community, and the Prapa market.

Most heavily flooded was Soi Thao Sura 25 where water rose as high as 1.2 metres, according to the local authorities.

At the Mongkolchai Niwet housing estate in downtown Nakhon Ratchasima, residents waded waist-deep in water after floods struck the the area without warning.

Parts of Chaiyaphum, Lop Buri and Nakhon Sawan provinces were also affected. Residents had to evacuate from villages while water flooded rice farms and downtown Nakhon Sawan.

Interior Minister Anupong Paojinda, who chairs the national committee monitoring developments of storm Noul, said the effects of the storm are predicted to last until today.

Officials in hard-hit provinces are told to prepare facilities for evacuees and heavy machinery will be put to work in the flood-relief operations.

Interior permanent secretary Chatchai Promlert said the priority was to alleviate the impact of the storm quickly using resources and equipment available including water pumps.

 

Bangkok Post