Yom River flood leaves 1,000 Phichit homes submerged for over a month

Floodwaters from the Yom River have submerged four districts in Phichit for over a month, affecting around 1,000 households with water levels reaching up to 1 metre. Residents face worsening conditions as the water turns black and foul-smelling.

Phichit province has been grappling with severe flooding since late August, particularly in Bang Lai subdistrict, Bueng Na Rang district. The Yom River overflowed its banks, impacting the residents of Sam Ngam, Pho Thale, Bueng Na Rang, and Pho Prathap Chang districts. Residents have been coping with stagnant water for over a month, leading to significant hardship.

The Yom River’s water levels have begun to stabilise and show signs of receding. In Bang Lai subdistrict, reports from Surapol Netkaew, the head of the local administrative organisation, indicate that the flooding has affected 10 villages, submerging 1,131 households under an average of 1 metre of water. Continuous monitoring of the situation has been a priority for Phichit province.

Today, various organisations, including the provincial government, the local administrative organisation of Bang Lai, the Provincial Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office, the Provincial Industry Office, and Akara Resources Public Company Limited, have collaborated to deliver aid to the affected residents.

They have distributed relief bags under the Mind Bags: We Won’t Abandon Each Other project, using boats and agricultural vehicles to reach the stranded. About 300 households received these relief bags, with additional aid provided to 10 bedridden patients directly at their doorsteps.

Surapol emphasised the ongoing struggle faced by the residents due to the flooding, which began in late August and has persisted into the present day. The affected areas include 10 villages with 1,131 households, where water levels have hovered around 1 metre.

Phichit flooding

Residents have had to rely on boats as their primary mode of transportation in and out of the villages. The situation is particularly dire for bedridden patients and the elderly, who need to travel for medical appointments and medication.

The floodwaters, which have started to stabilise and recede, have turned black and emit a foul odour. Despite these challenging conditions, the local officials expect that it will take approximately another month for the water levels to recede fully and return to normal, likely by late November. Following this, efforts to restore roads and other infrastructure will begin, managed by the local administrative organisation.

Relief efforts have been a crucial lifeline for the affected communities. The delivery of essential supplies and aid has provided some relief amid the prolonged crisis. The officials remain vigilant, monitoring the situation and preparing for the next phase, which will involve substantial restoration work to repair the damage caused by the flooding, reported KhaoSod.

As the water levels continue to decrease, the residents of Phichit look forward to a return to normalcy. The upcoming restoration efforts will be vital in rebuilding the affected areas and providing a stable environment for the communities to recover and thrive once again.