Thailand Floods

Floods in northeastern Thailand have left 17 people dead over the past two weeks.  This flood has caused put entire villages underwater, destroyed crops and disrupted transportation and commerce.  Thailand’s government appears to be caught by surprise with some survivors stranded for days without aid.  This flood has been classified as one of the worst in half a century.  The damage is estimated at more at more than $650 million.  Twenty-eight out of seventy-seven provinces have been affected by this.  According to the government’s Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, many reservoirs are over capacity and are being forced to dump water downstream.  A school teacher from Lop Buri Province is stranded on the second flood of her house.  She also said no officials or aid organizations had reached her village since the flooding began and that neighbors were delivering food by boat. 

It’s shocking to find out that this area is facing such an event.  I can’t begin to imagine what it would be like to be stranded on the second floor of a house!  With this much water, their crops will be destroyed.  This reminds me of a few years ago when the price of rice rose drastically due to heavy rainfall and fields being destroyed.  I’m guessing that the same thing will be resulting soon.  I hope Thailand’s government starts to get things together and reach people who are stranded.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/22/world/asia/22thai.html