Trains in North stopped as wet causes sinkhole
As rainfall continued in northern Thailand, six villages in Tambon Jae Son's in Lampang's Muang Pan district were hit by forest run-off 1.5m to 2m-deep at 3am yesterday, while a landslide blocked the entrance of Pang Ton Noon Ville and marooned 60 house
Jae Son National Park had to close its mineral-water bath for two days and prohibited visitors from swimming in its waterfalls.
Meanwhile, a landslide blocked a rail line and several spots suffered flooding in Lamphun’s Mae Tha district. Forest run-off from Khun Tan Mountain in Lamphun’s Muang district causing a 50m-wide 50m-deep sinkhole underneath railway at 4am; caused the train services to Lamphun and Chiang Mai to halt. Train passengers had to take buses from Lampang Train Station to Lamphun and Chiang Mai instead. Officials needed up to 10 days to fix the railway. The landslide also blocked the entrance to Khun Tan National Park and Khun Tan Moo 8 Village.
Lamphun as well as those in Tak, Khamphaeng Phetch, Chanthaburi, Trat, Ranong and Phang Nga were warned of 4-5 days of heavy rains. Lamphun Irrigation Office urged Ban Thi district residents to move belongings to higher ground and brace for flooding as the now-brimming Mae Thi Reservoir might overflow. Tak’s Um Phang district chief Suchat Theekhasuk eyed on announcing the flood-hit district as a disaster zone.
In the Northteastern province of Chaiyaphum’s Nong Bua Daeng dsitrict, forest run-offs from Phu Khieo Wildlife Sanctuary caused Chi River to rise by two meters and swept away a concrete bridge as well as damaging 200 rais of sugarcane plantations in Tambon Wang Chompoo Friday night. Chi riverside residents in downstream Nong Bua Rawe, Chatturat and Ban Khwao districts were urged to prepare for flood in 1-2 days. Lam Pa Tao Dam was still brimming and releasing some water out, hence downstream people in Muang Chaiyaphum were to be on guard in 1-2 days.
In Ranong, disaster prevention and mitigation official Chawalit Nithornrat warned tourists not to trek or swim in seven waterfalls (Ngao, Punyabal, Ton Phetch, Bok Krai, Chum Saeng, Suwansiri, Rak Loy), while officials were told to watch for possible flash flood, forest run-off, landslide at Muang, La Oon, Kapor and Suk Samran districts. Chawalit also reported that 250 villagers were affected and eight roads were damaged from September 5-7 flooding and warned Ranong residents of downpours until September 10.
