North and Northeast prepare for worst as tropical storm nears

As emergency measures were put in place across the North and Northeast, the body of Jinda Mahanam, 57, who had been missing following the flooding in Nan on Tuesday, was found yesterday in a longan orchard in Wiang Sa district.

Nan Governor Suwat Phromsuwan sent urgent orders to the 15 districts instructing officials to have personnel and machinery ready for the possible evacuation of people and for potential food-relief operations, as well as inform community leaders and residents about the Meteorological Department’s Dianmu warnings.

The department said the storm over the upper South China Sea would make landfall over upper Vietnam last night and weaken over upper Laos, resulting in heavy to very heavy rainfall in Thailand’s North and Northeast yesterday and today

The department warned residents to also expected severe weather conditions in Mae Hong Son, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Phayao, Phrae, Lamphun, Lampang, Tak, Uttaradit, Phitsanulok, Phetchabun, Loei, Nong Bua, Lamphu, Nong Khai, Bueng Kan, Udon Thani, Sakon Nakhon and Nakhon Phanom. 

The strong monsoon, which was heading southwest, was expected to create waves up to four metres high in the Andaman Sea and the upper Gulf of Thailand, with all ships using those water warned to proceed with caution. 

Small boats were advised to stay ashore until tomorrow. 

Nan disaster prevention and mitigation chief Narong Inso alerted the province’s districts to prepare fast-moving teams to respond to any flooding or landslides.

Muang Nan Municipality mayor Surapol Thiansut instructed rescue workers to refuel water pumps and check sluice gates while urging residents to stockpile at least three days of food, candles/flashlights and medicine and closely monitor news reports on the storm. 

Nan police chief Maj-General Padol Prapanont told his subordinates to prepare measures to aid any affected residents.

Many households affected by recent floods have kept their belongings on high grounds in case of more flooding. Some areas of Wiang Sa remained under water as deep as 30 centimetres yesterday.

In Mae Hong Son, Governor Pipat Ekpapan warned alerted residents in the province’s seven districts, especially those in recently flood-affected Pai and Pang Mapha, about the possibility of more flooding.

If rainfall exceeded 50 millimetres in one hour, the authorities may be forced to evacuate at-risk residents, he added. 

Pai’s Ban Mae Yen village headwoman Jurairat Chanphrommin said her village was still recovering from the August 13 flood that damaged all farmland in the district and some 200 small guesthouses and resorts.

In Phichit's Sam Ngam district, where the Yom River had been rising up to 10 centimetres a day, local officials have also preparing measures to respond to any flooding.

Runoffs from northern waterways are expected to reach Sukhothai and Phitsanulok provinces this weekend and hit Phichit province next week.