Ubon Flood 2022 “It’s heavier than the news” – BBC News Thai

Thanyaporn Buathong

BBC Thai correspondent

flood situation in Ubon Ratchathani Province Especially in the districts of Mueang and Warin Chamrap, the impact was the most severe in 43 years and the floods were greater than in 2019. Agricultural areas were extensively flooded, covering 19 districts and the houses in 9 districts have drowned. trough, Storm Noru from the end of September and the downstream area of ​​the Northeast

Recently, there are people in Ubon Ratchathani province. More than 46,000 people were affected.

This morning (October 11), the water level in the Moon River at the Seri Democracy Bridge temple station in downtown Ubon was measured at 11.50 meters, an increase of 3 cm from yesterday morning, which is a higher water level than in 2019 (10.97). m)

Images of the flood published on the social networks of the province Many Facebook pages. reveals flood damage within the province The area along the Moon River in Ubon People’s homes have been flooded to the second floor, forcing the province to set up around 90 evacuation centers.

many areas of Ubon Ratchathani Province Flooded for a month Volunteer network identified with BBC Thai and added some villagers Evacuated 3 times

Many people in the Warin Champrap district have to queue to get on military trucks. go to work in the city of Ubon Due to the road route connecting the Muang district and the Warin Chamrap district, there is only one route left to use for small cars. where the traffic is at a serious level

Chonlathee Youngtrong, governor of Ubon Ratchathani province gave an interview to the radio station SorPorPor.91 yesterday (October 10) that the general picture of this year’s floods in Ubon due to the rain situation from the monsoon depression falls in a wide area in the northeast and Ubon provinces are downstream provinces. It receives water from both the Mun River and the Chi River, which come from many northeastern provinces.The Mun River is a watercourse from Nakhon Ratchasima, Surin, Buriram, while the Chi River is a watercourse. water from Chaiyaphum, Khon Kaen, Maha Sarakham, Roi Et, Yasothon.

“This year we have the water level at the M7 water level station, Seri Democracy Bridge in Muang Ubon, almost 60cm higher than the year 62 now, so it was hit more than the year 62 in some areas in the 62 May It will not flood, but this year it will suffer “.

Assoc. Prof. Sommai Chinnak, Lecturer in the Department of Studies of the Mekong Region Faculty of Arts Ubon Ratchathani University told BBC Thai The flood situation in Ubon and neighboring provinces is now 30-40% heavier than in 2019, with some of them analyzing it caused by the interruption of water management during the change of governor and the preparation was too complacent.

“Now it’s been more than 62 years … It’s heavier than the news. Many are left with only the roof,” said the Association. Prof. Sommai.

For Ubon, there are 4 routes between Muang District and Warin Champrap District, leaving only one route. And the only route left from the 15-20 minutes it took was 5 hours.

Flood situation due to heavy rains and floods from the influence of storm Noru blowing in Thailand At the end of September widespread flooding occurred in many northeastern provinces such as Chaiyaphum, Khon Kaen, Maha Sarakham, Roi Et, Yasothon, Surin , Sisaket, Ubon Ratchathani.

Due to its geographical position, Ubon Ratchathani is a downstream province. The main rivers in the northeast are the Mun River and the Chi River, where two rivers converge Ubon Ratchathani Province and finally flows into the Mekong River in Khong Chiam District

In 2019, it was a year that Ubon flooded in 40 years due to the influence of storm Podul and storm Kajiki, but this year is believed to have passed the maximum flood point three years ago.

Ubon Ratchathani Governor Chonlathee Yangtrong said on October 10 that the most affected areas include the Warin Chamrap district, Phibun Mangsahan, Don Wat Daeng and some areas that have reached the second floor of the house. The state has asked local government organizations to establish shelters Temporarily, there are now more than 90 centers. He also said that in the Muang district there are some communities that are flooded. And because the city bank is taller than the Warin Chamrap district, the Warin Chamrap district is more damaged.

“The route we try to keep from being completely flooded is the eastern ring road, Route 231, which leaves only one route from the Warin district to the Mueang district.”

The governor of Ubon also said that the water level has risen at a reduced rate. There is a trend towards the progressive decrease of the water coming from the northern provinces of Ubon. Drainage is still good, but drainage takes time. Because the distance of the river is about 80 km from the province to reach the destination at the Mekong River in the Khong Chiam district.

“Many areas have been flooded for months. But there are good signs that the water will begin to peak this week. And it will begin to decrease. The situation should improve if it stops raining,” Ubon Ratchathani governor told SorPhor. 91

“Some people have emigrated three times, from their homes to the hills where the water arrives. migrated to one place Everyone wants an evacuation center. It’s the closest to my home, but when the oil comes, I can’t stay. “Weeranatakorn Phrom-iam, administrator of Warin Chamrap, Ban Hao, Ubon Ratchathani and Flood Volunteer Network. Tell BBC Thai about the situation of the evacuation center around in Ban Thap Thai Ubon Ring Road Close to the Central Ubon department store which has now become a water outlet

The amount of water that comes quickly Making sure that the villagers who have escaped the water keep their belongings and their tents on time. the water was constantly raised from the former gas station on the side where the villagers used the toilets. and the point of setting up the kitchen

this volunteer told BBC Thai that insufficient manpower of government officials because there are many people affected. He also commented that the flood in Ubon “makes less news. like at home”, despite being the heaviest flood it had never met in his life.

“People today are unable to adapt. because I never met much water in the year 62, it went too fast, but now it can’t go up and down. “

Ajarn Thawat Maneepong, president of the innovation program for social development Faculty of Arts Ubon Ratchathani University and volunteers to fight the floods told the BBC Thai flood this year as a citizen Water management who was informed of what the state is doing. doing. It was only before the flooding that water was drained from various points into the Mun River. And there is a water impeller only downstream.

Ajarn Thawat said the flood in Ubon Ratchathani was a major disaster. However, a committee was never set up to coordinate with people how to deal with floods. Furthermore, the provision of information from the state in the past did not lead to the response of the incident. The Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Agency also said it had made arrangements 3 months in advance, but couldn’t see a picture of what the PWA had prepared.

In addition, the flood conditions differed from those in 2019, when rainwater flowed into two rivers. and suddenly flooded but from following the news This year, the amount of water is not much. But the conditions of the water flow are different.

“The waters rise like the Mun River; when it rises, its tributaries overflow. Make it spread Like other districts, Phibun Mangsahan Sawang Weerawong It has flooded like never before.”

The Ubon Ratchathani University District Teacher also said that Ubon Ratchathani University’s volunteer network, where students visited various areas, found that food and water were insufficient. And there are many problems scattered outside the municipality and the municipality of Warin Champrap. Therefore, the state should establish a directorate that has a communication mechanism to explore the problem in both the immediate and the coping phase. There is a systematic provision for evacuation. and the coordination system of the volunteers they came to support

“(State) also talked about the level of distress. But still not covered. I haven’t seen any mapping of where the trouble spots are. It’s even just that. Can you go this way? If you can’t go anywhere else I think that tools we use When faced with the problem, it’s very small. It’s not appropriate, “Thawat said.