Flash floods wreak havoc in 3 districts

       Flash floods are continuing to devastate Kanchanaburi, with three districts suffering their worst flooding in a decade.
       More than 7,000 households in Lao Khwan, Huay Krachao and Bo Phloi districts have been lashed by days of heavy rain and run-off from the Chong Krueng and Chong Kruad mountain ranges. Over 50,000 rai of farmland and more than 300 local roads have been damaged.
       Many areas in the three districts remained inundated yesterday with floodwaters rising to 120cm.
       Kanchanaburi governor Roengsak Mahavinitchaimontri yesterday inspected flood-hit areas in Huay Krachao and handed out 1,000 relief kits to residents.
       Bangkok has been placed on maximum alert as the city expects to face a very high tide today.
       City Governor MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra yesterday said flood prevention measures had been put in place to protect the inner city during the high tide.
       The city administration has spent over 300 million baht to build embankments along the Chao Phraya River to prevent flooding in Samphanthawong, Bangkok Noi and Tha Prachan areas. About 70km of embankments have been built.
       The tide is expected to peak at 1.80m at 8am today.
       City clerk Pongsak Semsant yesterday told people living along Klong Bangkok Noi to brace themselves for flooding.
       An embankment could not be built in the area as 35 of the 250 households were encroaching on the canal, Mr Pongsak said. Authorities are negotiating with owners to remove the houses to pave the way for the building of a 1km-long embankment from Arun Amarin bridge to Bangkok Noi bridge.
       Flooding that hit Nakhon Ratchasima,Chaiyaphum, Buri Ram and Surin last week caused about 132 million baht in damage to farm land and public utilities in the four northeastern provinces.
       Wallop Theppakdi, head of the office for disaster prevention and mitigation in Region 5, said more than 122,000 rai of farmland in Chaiyaphum were badly damaged by last week's flooding.