Flood warning for Bangkok

Bangkok Deputy Governor Bannasophit Mekwichai has ordered local authorities to warn residents along the Chao Phraya River and connecting canals to move at-risk belongings to higher ground due to the rising water level from the combined high tide and northern run-off on Wednesday evening.

Government labourers have built sandbag embankments along the river as the water level in the river will remain high for the next few days.

But the Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry is confident its water management will effectively prevent flooding near Suvarnabhumi airport and in the central provinces, so that the extensive floods in those areas last year won't recur during this year's rainy season.

Full Story

Non-stop shower cripples life
Sunday September 23 2007 04:26 IST

EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE

BHUBANESWAR: As the depression over the Bay of Bengal crossed Orissa coast near Puri on Saturday evening, an unrelenting spell of rain completely threw normal life out of gear in coastal and southern districts, claiming at least five lives.

While continuous rains threatened another round of floods, what caused havoc was severe waterlogging, bringing life to a complete stop. Bhubaneswar and Cuttack were the worst hit and all five deaths, caused by wall collapse, were reported from these two areas.

Relentless rains left almost all the rivers in spate. By evening, Mahanadi was rising at Khairamal and Naraj while Devi was swelling too. Baitarani and Brahmani too rose at some stations.

In northern Orissa, Budhabalanga was rising at all its gauge points, while Subarnarekha too was in spate. Bansandhara and Rushikulya in southern parts of the State continued to rise with rains showing little signs of abating during the next 48 hours.

Full Story

Situation grim, rivers in spate
Tuesday September 25 2007 02:22 IST

EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE

JAJPUR: The situation continued to be grim in Jajpur district on Monday as the rivers Baitarani, Brahmani and Kharasrota were flowing above the danger mark affecting over 1.5 lakh people in Jajpur, Bari, Korei, Rasulpur and Dasarathpur blocks.

As many as 83 villages under 35 gram panchayats in the four blocks of the district are still marooned for the last two days. A woman was reportedly swept away in Chandanpur of Bari block on Monday. With this, the toll in the present floods has gone up to two.

Meanwhile, Bari block headquarters has been cut off from the panchayat headquarters since Sunday as the flood water is flowing at a height of at least four-five feet on most of the roads. Traffic movement has been disrupted on the Jajpur-Bauruan, Singhpur- Rajkanika, Bari-Kuakhia, Jajpur- Panasa, Bari-Ratnagiri and Golkund- Indipur roads since Sunday.

While hundreds of thatched houses have collapsed, paddy crop in more than 40,000 hectares of land in the five blocks has been damaged.

According to sources in the district flood control room, the Brahmani river is flowing at 68 feet against the red mark of 67 feet at Jenapur. Similarly, Baitarani is flowing at 19.29 metres against the danger level of 17.83 metres at Akhuapada. Kharasrota is also flowing at 19.60 metre against its danger mark of 18.20 metres at Binjharpur. The water level in Baitarani is expected to rise.

Full Story

Heavy rain batters Anandapur

Statesman News Service
KEONJHAR Sept. 25: Incessant rains due to low-pressure has caused damage in the Anandapur sub-division badly, as the Baitarani, the Kusei, the Remal and all the tributaries have been flooded. For the fourth time in this rainy season, the water in the Baitarani river has crossed the danger level of 38.36 metres.
While 30 villages under the Hatadihi block have become submerged, 30,000 people of the Anandapur sub-division, Patna block, Ghasipura block, Joda and Barbil have been affected. Crops have also been badly damaged in the four-day long downpour.
Arjun Sahoo of Jalasuan in Ramchandrapur police station was washed away in the Kusei River, while Giri Gope of Nalda was drowned into a rivulet when he was crossing the culvert over it on the Balani-Barbil road.
Continue downpour has also rendered hundreds of people of Anandapur, Ghasipura, Patna, Joda and Barbil homeless. However, the Anandapur sub-collector and the BDOs are monitoring the situation.

Full Story

Flood situation critical in Orissa districts	RSS

KalingaTimes Correspondent Bhubaneswar/Balasore, Sep 25: With Subarnarekha and Baitarani rivers continuing to flow above the danger mark, flood situation remained critical in hundreds of villages across Balasore, Bhadrak and Jajpur districts of Orissa on Tuesday. As lakhs of people continued to suffer in the marooned villages, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik made an aerial survey of the flood-ravaged areas during the day.

Patnaik has instructed the District Collectors of the affected districts to step up relief and rescue operations. The Chief Minister also asked the authorities concerned to disinfect the drinking water sources in the flood affected regions and activate the healthcare system to provide timely medical help to the people. By Tuesday evening, Budhabalanga, Jalaka and Kansabansha rivers in Balasore district had started receding slowly. But Subarnarekha, the main cause of worry for north Balasore, was above the danger mark at Jamsolaghat and Rajghat.

Full Story

16-lakh people hit by Orissa floods

Bhubaneswar, Sept. 25 (PTI): Relief and rehabilitation measures were today stepped up in six flood-ravaged districts of Orissa where swollen rivers continued to flow above the danger mark affecting more than 16-lakh people. Though the rain's fury subsided in many places, vast areas in Balasore, Bhadrak, Mayurbhanj, Kendrapara, Cuttack and Jajpur districts were submerged in flood waters, paralysing normal life and leaving many people marooned, official sources said.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, who undertook an aerial survey of the affected areas, asked authorities to intensify relief work and provide medical assistance, besides carrying out rescue operations.

The flood situation remained grim in Balasore district where the Subarnarekha river was flowing around one metre above the danger mark and water level was steadily rising, sources said adding water level in the Budhabalanga also remained above the danger level.

Full Story

Six districts face flood fury Staff Reporter

Kendrapara turns out to be worst hit

---

Road communication hit, crops on vast areas damaged

Jamankira in Deogarh has highest rainfall of 19.2 cm

---

BHUBANESWAR: After four days of heavy rains triggered by a depression, six districts of Orissa on Monday faced the flood fury with several villages in Balasore, Kendrapara and Mayurbhanj district marooned by floodwaters.

Lakhs hit

Kendrapara district turned out to be the worst hit district with rainwater flowing downstream as several lakh people in different villages were affected by the flood.

According to Special Relief Commissioner, the villagers affected by current flood were close to nine lakhs.

It happened apparently due to the heavy rains in catchments of Brahmani and Baitarani rivers that passed through the district.

Hundreds acres of agricultural land were inundated by the floodwater.

People have fled to safer places.

Seaside regions such as Rajanagar, Patamundai and several villagers around district headquarter town Kendrapara had come under the grip of flood on Monday.

Similarly three lakh people in six blocks of Balasore district were affected by the floods that disrupted road communication and damaged crops in vast areas.

Floodwater also wrought havoc in Mayurbhanj district as its seven blocks were affected by the fresh round of flood.

Though intensity of rainfall had come down substantially during last 24 hours, water was still flowing at four river gauge sites such as Anandpur and Akhuapada on Baitarani river, Jamsholaghat on Subarnrekah and NH-5 Govindpur on Burhabalang river, the daily flood bulletin said.

Level rising

On Monday, water level was rising at as many as 13 river gauge sites.

Flood Control Room said Jamankira in Deogarh district had received highest rainfall of 19.2 cm and it was followed by Jamadarpalli in the same district with 16.8 cm. Rainfall was measured to be in the region of 7 cm to 15 cm.

Relief work

Mahanadi, Brahmani, Subarnarekha and Baitarani river systems have been receiving heavy rainwater for last four days.

Special Relief Commission control room said relief and rescue operation have been started in Balasore, Kendrapara and Mayurbhanj district.

Officials were facing difficulty with road communications in several places damaged due to heavy rains.

Orissa reels under floods

From our ANI Correspondent

Baripada (Orissa), Sep 24: Orrisa continues to reel under floods with heavy rains lashing the region.

lmost all major rivers like Budhabalanga and its tributaries Kalo, Sunei,angahar, East and West Deo are in spate following incessant rains during the last 24 hours.

River Budhabalanga had overflowed its banks early on Sunday morning with the floodwaters surging into the low-lying areas of Baripada town.

The authorities have sprung into action to help those marooned.

Full Story

Orissa hit by fresh floods, 13 lakh people affected

Bhubaneswar, Sept. 24 (PTI): Fresh floods hit at least six districts in northern Orissa today affecting over 13 lakh people as major rivers in the region were rising alarmingly following heavy rains caused by depression.

Around three lakh people in six blocks of Balasore district were affected by the floods which disrupted road communication and damaged crops in vast areas, official sources said.

Over nine lakh people were hit by floods in Kendrapara district and nearby areas as swollen Brahmani and Baitarani rivers ravaged around 6000 hectares of agriculture land and damaged hundreds of houses, the sources said.

Ali, Rajnagar and Pattamundai areas of the district were the worst hit.

Though intensity of rains had weakened considerably, many areas were waterlogged and road links remained snapped disrupting vehicular movement.

While the swollen Budhabalanga river was flowing above the danger mark at Govindpur in Balasore district, water level of Suvarnarekha was likely to cross the danger level very soon, the sources said.

Full Story

Bangladesh: Disaster Management Information Centre situation report 23 Sep 2007 18:00

Special Weather Bulletin; Report on Cyclone Speculated Districts; Flood, Rainfall and River Situation; Summary of Water Levels; Flood Forecast (24 & 48 Hrs); Weather Forecast and District Wise Flood Status

Current Situation: Maritime ports of Chittagong, Cox's Bazar and Mongla have been advised to hoist local cautionary signal no. three (r) three. All fishing boats and trawlers over North Bay have been advised to remain in shelter till further notice. Overall flood situation of the country continued in improving trend and will continue. The Brahmaputra-Jamuna and the Ganges–Padma continued falling and will fall further. Flood situation in the South-central part of the country is likely to improve further and will continue. All small rivers surrounding Dhaka district are receding and the trend will continue. The prevailing flood situation in the districts of Sylhet & Sunamganj is improving slowly and is likely to improve further.

SPECIAL WEATHER BULLETIN (on September 23, 2007 at 0830 BST)

THE ORISSA COAST CROSSING MONSOON DEEP DEPRESSION CROSSED ORISSA COAST OF INDIA NEAR PARADWIP BY EARLY MORNING TODAY (23 SEPTEMBER 2007) AND NOW LIES OVER ORISSA AND ADJOINING AREA AS A LAND DEPRESSION. IT IS LIKELY MOVE IN A NORTH-NORTHWESTERLY DIRECTION FURTHER INLAND AND WEAKEN GRADUALLY BY GIVING PRECIPITATION. UNDER ITS INFLUENCE STEEP PRESSURE GRADIENT PERSISTS OVER NORTH BAY. SQUALLY WEATHER MAY AFFECT THE MARITIME PORTS.

MARITIME PORTS OF CHITTAGONG, COX'S BAZAR AND MONGLA HAVE BEEN ADVISED TO LOWER LOCAL WARNING SIGNAL NUMBER FOUR (R) FOUR BUT INSTEAD HOIST LOCAL CAUTIONARY SIGNAL NUMBER THREE (R) THREE.

ALL FISHING BOATS AND TRAWLERS OVER NORTH BAY HAVE BEEN ADVISED TO REMAIN IN SHELTER TILL FURTHER NOTICE.

[NO FURTHER SPECIAL WEATHER BULLETIN WILL BE ISSUED IN THIS SERIES]

Full Story

Another flood looming large
Monday September 24 2007 07:34 IST

Express News Service

BHUBANESWAR: Lakhs were affected in five districts of the State after the depressioninduced rains lashed coastal and interior parts of Orissa with a vengeance.

Two persons were killed after being swept away by storm water near a culvert at Ranipatharguda in Kandhamal district. The rain-related death toll reached seven.

As rains pounded the catchment areas, major rivers were in spate. Northern districts - Mayurbhanj and Balasore - faced the fury even as a dozen blocks bore the brunt of the rains and consequent floods.

The Special Relief Commissioner (SRC)�s Office said over 37 gram panchayats in six blocks of Mayurbhanj were in grip of the deluge. Baripada Municipality too was not spared. While the district administration had to evacuate 3,200 people, five villages had been marooned.

Four powerboats were pressed into rescue and relief work. Free kitchens were opened at four points.

In Balasore, a population of 2.80 lakh in 89 GPs was affected by the floods in Subarnarekha and Budhabalanga rivers. Budhabalanga crossed its red mark at NH 5 in Govindpur and was flowing at 8.46 metres, flood control room said.

Unconfirmed reports said over 9 lakh people were affected by the floods and torrential rain in Kendrapara.

People of Jajpur were gearing up to face the worst as Baitarani was rising menacingly. The river crossed its danger mark of 17.83 metres at Akhuapada, flowing at 18.04 metres.

With both the rivers still rising, more areas could come into their grip over the next couple of days as showers are likely to continue.

The Met office said the depression had moved north-westwards and lay centred near Angul on Sunday. It is likely to move in a northwesterly direction.

Under its influence, widespread rainfall with very heavy falls are likely in interior Orissa during the next 24 hours. Catchments of Subernarekha, Baitarani, lower Brahmani, lower Mahanadi and Bansadhara, upper Brahmani and upper Mahanadi would continue to get rains during the next 48 hours.

In the last 24 hours, Athgarh received 27 cm rain followed by Nilagiri 24 cm, Ghatagaon 22 cm, NH-5 Govindpur and Soro 17 cm, Boudh and Tikabali 15 cm each.

Heavy rain raises fears of another round of floods
Staff Reporter

BHUBANESWAR: Even as the toll in the latest spell of rains went up to seven, water level was fast rising in different river systems of the State, raising fears of another round of floods in two or three districts on Sunday.

Two more deaths were reported from the Phulbani area. At Puri, violent waves washed away a portion of a newly constructed road to Puri-Konark Marine Drive. Vehicular movement on that road has been regulated.

Water level was rising steadily at 19 out of 28 river gauge sites, the daily flood bulletin issued by the Water Resource Department said. Moreover, water flow overtopped danger mark at four places. Water level was measured to be at 39.55 metres against the danger mark 38.36 metres at Anandpur on the Baitarani river. Similarly, at its nearest river gauge site, Akhupada, water was flowing at a height of 18.25 metres against the danger level of 17.83 metres.

Similarly, water also flowing above danger level at NH-5 Govindpur on the Burhabalanga river and at Kashinagar on the Vanshadhara. Several parts of Balasore, Bhadrak, Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj district were inundated, district control rooms said.

According to the State Revenue Control Room, Athagarh received highest rainfall during the last 24 hours. The rainfall was measured to be at 27 cm there. Similarly, Nilagiri of Balasore district, received 23 cm and it was closely followed by Ghatagaon where the precipitation was 22 cm. Most places in coastal as well as northern regions, rainfall was measured close to 10 cm affecting normal life.

Full Story

Satellites feed weather information to create flash-flood warning system

By Robert Krier

UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER

September 8, 2007
DEL MAR – Hurricane Felix's march through Central America this week could help a local nonprofit corporation perfect a flash-flood warning system that may eventually span the globe.

The system, created by Konstantine Georgakakos, a hydrologist and Scripps Institution of Oceanography professor, is seen by meteorologists internationally as a potentially valuable tool in preventing some of the more than 5,000 flash-flood deaths that occur each year around the world.

Full Story

Flash-flood warning issued for mountains and deserts

RIVERSIDE – Heavy rainfall could produce flash floods in the mountains and deserts of Riverside County Thursday amid a late-summer heat wave expected to last in the inland region until this weekend, forecasters said.

Measurable amounts of rain expected to fall in the mountains and Coachella Valley Thursday have prompted the National Weather Service to issue a Flash Flood Watch for each region, lasting from noon until this evening.

Despite the expected showers and thunderstorms, oven-like temperatures will bake both areas, where high temperatures will range from 105 to 110 degrees in the Coachella Valley and 82 to 92 degrees in the mountains, according to meteorologists.

Full Story

Nigeria: HJRBDA Warns Jigawa Residents Against Flood

Daily Trust (Abuja)

27 August 2007
Posted to the web 27 August 2007

Flood warnings have been issued by the Hadejia Jama'are River Basin Development Authority (HJRBDA), and residents have begun evacuating to higher grounds.

The announcement which was sponsored by the authority has consistently been played on the radio stations in the state over the weekend warning residents along the river to leave for safer grounds due to the danger of flooding in the area.

Full Story

Did Govt's flood forecasting & embankments help?

Posted by: "mediavigil@yahoo.co.in" mediavigil@yahoo.co.in povertyfree77

Mon Aug 27, 2007 8:02 am (PST)

Did Govt's flood forecasting & embankments help?

Flood forecasting has been recognized as one of the most important, reliable and cost-effective non-structural measures for flood management.

Central Water Commission, Ministry of Water Resources has set up a network of forecasting stations covering all important flood prone interstate rivers.

The forecasts issued by these stations are used to alert the Public and to enable the administrative and engineering agencies of the States/UT's to take appropriate measures.

Central Water Commission started flood-forecasting services in 1958 with the setting up of its first forecasting station on Yamuna at Delhi Railway Bridge.

The website of Ministry of Water Resources claims that it has at present a vast network of 945 hydrological observation stations and issues level forecast for 145 sites and inflow forecasts of 28 dam barrage sites located on main rivers.

It also says that "The web site provides latest forecasts issued by the divisions of CWC." but if one visits it one only find one message: "The page cannot be found".

Hundreds of people are reported to have lost their lives and many more lost everything they owned when the waters rose in North Bihar.

For people across 300 villages in Koshi, flood and waterlogging is a yearlong problems because the very embankments that are meant to stop the flood have stopped it for good letting water stagnate.

General feeling is that it is the contractors, politicians and bureaucrats who stand to gain from the projects set up to build and maintain these embankments. Over several decades thousands of kilometers of embankments have been built but flood prone areas in have more than doubled.

Victims of flood do not have any voice in whose name newer and bigger embankments are being built.

Flood toll shoots up to 702 in Bangladesh

www.chinaview.cn 2007-08-26 19:59:58

DHAKA, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- The death toll from flood-related incidents in Bangladesh rose to 702 by Sunday morning, private news agency UNB reported.

Meanwhile, the flood situation has improved greatly with all but two rivers flowing below their danger marks and floodwater receding from most affected areas. However, a latest spell of flooding hit western Raj shahi area amid rain and onrush of water from upstream of the Padma river, one of the country's three major rivers.

The Flood Forecasting and Warning Center in its bulletin Sunday said the Padma was still flowing above danger level at several points.

Some 2.3 million people of 39 out of the country's districts have been affected by the floods, which started rolling in on July30 and engulfed most part of the country.

Full Story

Monday August 20 2007 12:34 IST BALASORE: For the fourth time this season, flood has snapped communication and marooned people in the district with heavy rain lashing northern Orissa for past two days.

Two northern blocks -Bhogarai and Baliapal - were cut off from the district headquarters with flood waters of Subarnarekha and Jalaka flowing through all the connecting roads.

Bhogarai block has received highest rainfall of 142 mm followed by Baliapal block 103 mm and Balasore town 50 mm within last 24 hours.

Flood waters of two rivers Jalaka and Kansabansa were flowing above danger mark throughout the day on Sunday.

According to the flood control room sources, Subarnarekha river was flowing near 10.75 m mark as against danger level of 10.36 m at Rajghat while Jalaka was flowing near 6.72 m mark against red mark of 5.5 m at NH-60.

Full Story

Five Orissa districts face flood threat
KalingaTimes Correspondent
Bhubaneswar: As intermittent rains continued in most parts of Orissa, five districts of the State - Balasore, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Jajpur and Bhadrak - are facing flood threat as the region was expected to experience heavy rainfall during the next 24 hours.

Heavy to very heavy fall was likely at a few places over Subarnarekha, Budhabalanga, and at isolated places over Baitarani and Lower Brahmani under the influence of an upper air cyclonic circulation over Gangetic West Bengal.

Full Text

Dent: DRBC flood warning system could get funding

U.S. Rep. Charlie Dent tours the Flood Museum and Resource Center and makes an important announcement about flooding mitigation, along with representatives of the Delaware River Basin Commission and other officials. Robert Tudor, Deputy Executive Director of the Delaware River Basin Commission, right, listens as Dent speaks in background left.

The Morning Call 12:11 PM EDT, August 17, 2007
m
The Delaware River Basin Commission could receive $250,000 to improve its flood warning system, U.S. Rep. Charlie Dent said this morning. Dent made the announcement at the future site of Easton's Flood Museum and Resource Center. The new system would include improved precipitation and stream gauge networks, and updated technology to improve flash flood warning capabilities for small watersheds.

Full Story