Songkhla Province Floods

[GWR]

Next time you go to buy a plastic water tank at one of those shops that sell plastic septic tanks, note that they also do plastic rowboats. The ideal house on stilts should also have a staircase wide enough to accomodate boat launching.

[GWR]

Songkhla & Hat-Yai have been experiencing floods again. Amongst the major flood causing factors (yet again) are new roads in wetland areas with too few bridges to allow swift drainage, infilled land blocking existing watercourses (hence my idea that stilt houses are a better option), rubbish blocked drains and a higher sealevel (thru' global-warming & tropical storm conditions at sea). It appears that part of the beachside road in Songkhla was washed away; although one source thought that the breach was mainly caused by inland floodwater. Quite a few of Songkhla's beachside Casuarinas also fell victim. I note for the first time that there were also mudslides in the Khao Roop Chang area of Songkhla:-

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2005/11/25/headlines/index.php?news=headlines_19253577.html

[GWR]

The Hat-Yai Nai area of Hat-Yai (one of its main residential zones) has already been flooded at least twice during the current rainy season; and may well be on the point of flooding again. Apparently, the Uttapao canal and the flood alleviation canals are both rather full this morning.

It seems that the ‘Western Flood Alleviation Canal’ has come to a complete halt just north of Hat-Yai’s northern bypass (Lopburiramet Road) in the area called Tha Chang; with floodwater building up in completed sections, with no outfall.

Most locals have already settled on a price of 400,000 Baht/Rai, and their land has already been excavated. The rumor mill is that one landowner has already turned down 800,000 Baht/Rai, and has demanded 1,600,000 Baht/Rai. This has pissed off those who have already sold; and those who have already been inundated twice. The atmosphere has turned a bit sour, and a roadside placard campaign has arisen to try and shame the recalcitrant landowner into quick settlement.

The news this morning is that negotiations have been going on; with the result that the Irrigation Department have already started cutting an outfall across disputed land. It would appear that the landowner has agreed that the price will eventually have to be settled in retrospect in court.

My guess is that the landowner in question is probably a non-local (& hence less subject to neighbor pressure) who bought land for some kind of resort or housing development; and who isn't prepared to let go without a handsome profit.

[ncr]

The Hat-Yai Nai area of Hat-Yai (one of its main residential zones) has already been flooded at least twice during the current rainy seasonThe South has a rainy season? I thought it's humid all year round. Please enlighten me about the Hat Yai climate.

[GWR]

:) Do I get the impression that you think I'm being naive by expecting it to be any other way. You have a point.

I've already started the SHAG (Stilt Houses Are Great) Campaign as a complementary project to Thailand's far more prestigious 'Gam Ling' (Monkey Cheek) Project, which very sensibly suggests that wetlands do not make the finest residential areas:-

http://www.angkor.com/2bangkok/2bangkok/forum/showthread.php?t=1069

Let's put it this way. It rains in all seasons, but the Rainy Season is somewhat surprisingly the rainiest season. There are some suggestions that it may not peter out until the end of December this year; although in some years it ends with Loy Krathong. And in fairness, I think flood alleviation work is already making a difference.

I note those involved say 'Kaem Ling':-

http://www.chaipat.or.th/n_stage/activities_e/ling_e/ling2_e.html

[ncr]

Well, no, I didn't think of you being particularly naive..... I was just wondering why you used the word "rainy season" in this context, and thought maybe you know something I didn't know. (As I have never stayed in southern Thailand for longer than 3-4 days in a row.)

[GWR]

OK. Got yer! Rainy season lasts from about June to December. If you are lucky, there is a short Cool Season in December before the Hot Season kicks in. And that's not particularly bereft of rain either.

Could be worse! Ranong gets an even more intense Rainy Season followed by drought in the Hot Season, as the landstrip between the mountains & the coast is so narrow that it makes water catchment difficult. And there are places further north of Ranong in Myanmar that are a great deal wetter still.
:)

[ncr]

Yes, I know that Ranong is the province with the highest annual precipitation - about 4500 mm or something. When I was there once, it didn't rain though. ;)

[ncr]

This (http://www.travelfish.org/weather_fish.php) interactive map (earlier mentioned in the maps section of the forum) corroborates what you're saying: November and December are the wettest months in Changwat Songkhla. (And it gives a value of 4119 mm for Ranong - and 4737 mm for Trat?)

[GWR]

Songkhla's Amphur Muang was badly flooded again yesterday. Yet again there were mudslides resulting in loss of life. It has been noted that these are particularly common where householders have excavated the hill land or destroyed the tree cover adjoining their property or squat.

It appears that Songkhla hasn't really had such flooding problems until this year. There's no doubt that the problem is compounded by a temporary higher sea-level due to storm conditions in the Gulf. And doubtless, normal sea-levels are on the rise, anyway. Let's face it, most people (myself included) don't really understand all these natural mechanisms. There's a thought around floodwater from the Hat-Yai Basin is now flowing into the (heavily-sedimented) lake quicker; with the result that the lake is currently brimming with water. On top of which there are new roads with inadequate culverts, drains blocked by rubbish and infilled landplots that have blocked natural watercourses:-

http://etna.mcot.net/query.php?nid=5195

http://etna.mcot.net/query.php?nid=5188

http://etna.mcot.net/query.php?nid=5077

[GWR]

It seems that the ‘Western Flood Alleviation Canal’ has come to a complete halt just north of Hat-Yai’s northern bypass (Lopburiramet Road) in the area called Tha Chang; with floodwater building up in completed sections, with no outfall.

Most locals have already settled on a price of 400,000 Baht/Rai, and their land has already been excavated. The rumor mill is that one landowner has already turned down 800,000 Baht/Rai, and has demanded 1,600,000 Baht/Rai. This has pissed off those who have already sold; and those who have already been inundated twice. The atmosphere has turned a bit sour, and a roadside placard campaign has arisen to try and shame the recalcitrant landowner into quick settlement.

The news this morning is that negotiations have been going on; with the result that the Irrigation Department have already started cutting an outfall across disputed land. It would appear that the landowner has agreed that the price will eventually have to be settled in retrospect in court.

My guess is that the landowner in question is probably a non-local (& hence less subject to neighbor pressure) who bought land for some kind of resort or housing development; and who isn't prepared to let go without a handsome profit.

http://www.focuspaktai.com/

The local 'Focus' Weekly for December 17th-23rd reports on the land compensation issue. It appears that some Royal Irrigation Dept officials bought land that they knew was scheduled for canal construction. Without going into the complete details, it seems that dissatisfaction has arisen for the following (main) reason. The RID officials with landholdings were paid up to 2,800,000 Baht/Rai, whilst ordinary villagers only received 400,000 Baht/Rai.

[GWR]

http://water-related.cocolog-nifty.com/waterrelated/cat4868214/

This report seems to have originated from Bangkok Post reporters; but I have no idea whether it was reported in the paper or not. I'm particularly interested in the looted warehouse, as I know for a fact that only parts of this area were flooded. It looks like a case of flat-out criminality, given the fact that foodsellers were continuing to trade with yards of this warehouse. On the other hand, I don't think we should lose sight of the fact that construction & factory workers living in nearby shanties would have been very hard-hit.

Three 7-Eleven convenience stores and a wholesale warehouse in flood-hit Songkhla's Hat Yai town suffered huge losses after they were ransacked by looters on Sunday. Saowanee Jirathanakit, manager of a 7- Eleven outlet on Rattana-uthit road, said she closed down her shop when a flash flood hit the district town on Sunday. The store's electrical supply was cut off and the staff were told to go home.

She heard it on the radio around 10pm that night that her store had been looted.

''We could not do anything after hearing about the looting as the floodwater was very high and it was still dark,'' said Ms Saowanee.

''After the floods receded, we rushed to our shop and found all the goods were gone, along with our computers and a water pump. The glass windows and doors were broken and the counter was ransacked,'' she said.

Witnesses said they saw a group of some 40-50 men and women wade through chest-deep floodwaters and break into the store.

Two other 7-Eleven stores in Hat Yai were also looted on the same day. One was located on Ratcha-uthit road and the other on Choksamarnkul road.

The owner of the Choksamarnkul outlet said it was the second time his store had been looted during flooding. The first looting occurred in 2000, said the owner who requested anonymity.

Looters also ransacked a warehouse of K&K wholesale store in Hat Yai.

Owner Kiatipong Srithanawongsakul initially put the damage at about eight million baht.

Despite his heavy loss from the flood and looting, Mr Kiatipong continued to hand out necessary items to other flood victims yesterday.

[GWR]

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2005/11/30/national/index.php?news=national_19292335.html
Songkhla bids to beat flash floods

Published on November 30, 2005

Songkhla city administrators will build three water-drainage systems and hire a private company to maintain the Samrong canal as a long-term solution to flood problems.

Songkhla mayor Uthit Chuchuay made this announcement yesterday following some of the worst floods in 50 years.

The city’s municipal board decided to build three more drainage points on Chalathas beach behind the Songkhla navy base, the mayor said.

The project would mean laying huge pipelines that may affect the beach view, but Uthit urged residents and tourists to understand the need to prevent floods reoccurring.

And with the Samrong canal – the main waterway that drains floods from the city – clogged with garbage and water hyacinth, the municipality would allocate funds to a private company to solve the problem and maintain the canal, Uthit said.

The municipality would also propose to the governor to deepen the canal in certain shallow areas and to replace makeshift wooden bridges to reduce waterway blockages, he said.

Officials would also work closely with the Meteorological Department in order to issue timely flood warnings to local residents.

The Nation

SONGKHLA

[GWR]

From the Asian Disaster Preparedness Center in Bangkok's Asian Institute of Technology:-

http://www.adpc.net/audmp/tudmp/en/Output.html

Map of Y2K Flood Levels:-

http://www.adpc.net/audmp/tudmp/images/hat%20yai/water%20level%20map.jpg

[GWR]

Here we are in the middle of the hot season and we're getting hefty downpours. It is said that parts of Sadao District are already flooded; and that Khlong Uttapao is rising. As always at such times, it's advisable to to take a gander at the khlong water level before bed.:eek: