Floods devastate Isan

Severe flooding continues to wreak havoc in many parts of the country with the Northeast being hardest hit, particularly Nakhon Ratchasima where authorities said this is the worst flood in 50 years causing extensive damage to crops, livestock, dairy farms, housing and industrial estates.

Authorities cannot yet measure the damage to crops and livestock as flood levels have not yet receded to allow assessment.

There is concern of more flooding brought on by Typhoon Megi, but the Meteorological Department said the typhoon changed course after landing on the Philippines and was moving north to southern China. However, weather forecasters are predicting more heavy downpours the next few days before a high pressure system moves down from China to force the rain south.

Authorities said 16 provinces in the North, Northeast and Central parts have reported heavy flood damage. Nakhon Ratchasima, along with neighbouring Prachin Buri, estimates crop damage at several hundred million baht. In addition to farmland and livestock, retail outlets, hotels and resorts are also being inundated.

"Our first focus right now is to help rescue victims and supply them with food and consumer products for daily use, but the amount of damages is expected to be quite high," said Rumpuengsak Ngamrojanavanich, director for the information technology division of the Nakhon Ratchasima Chamber of Commerce.

"The floodwater came fast and caught us all off guard, as within two hours the water reached knee level. No advance warnings from any state agencies were given," he said.

Mr Rumpuengsak said the hardest hit is likely Pak Thong Chai and Muang district's outer areas, now heavily inundated, where rice is about to be harvested. "Rice on more than 1,000 rai in those areas is expected to be almost entirely devastated," he said.

The Muang district's outer areas, including Pak Thong Chai and Sung Noen where an industrial promotion area is located, and Pak Chong where maize and sugarcane are farmed and recreational establishments are prevalent, are covered by floodwater.

Mr Rumpuengsak said computers and technological equipment in industrial factories such as Shin-Ei Hitech and MMI Precision Assembly (Thailand) at the industrial park have been ravaged, as water reached two metres high during the weekend.

Kulpatra Rakjorboon, a small-scale farm-related operator in Pak Chong, said her business stands to lose over 200,000 baht as about 400 sacks of 50-kilogramme fertiliser and 200 sacks of chicken feed stacked at her rented warehouse in the flooded area of Nong Sarai are now under water. The Federation of Thai Industries said companies in the Northeast reported raw materials could not be transported, especially in the agricultural sector.

Chumpon Somchai, president of the Prachin Buri Chamber of Commerce, said flood damage is mostly in Kabin Buri's municipality and should be lower than that of Nakhon Ratchasima.

The Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Co-operatives expects to propose to its board assistance for farmers affected by the flooding. Short-term measures include the extension of loan repayment for another year, while long-term measures include the extension of loan repayment for up to three years for those farmers whose revenues declined more than 50%. The BAAC will also consider extending a loan of up to 100,000 baht with a rate 3% lower than the normal rate to farmers.

Sourced=bangkokpost