Mekong river: flood risks rising...!!!!!
Mekong river: flood risks rising...!!!!!
Heavy rain in Laos increases flood risk
Khamphone Syvongxay
Vientiane Times
Publication Date : 22-07-2008
Heavy rain caused rivers to rise last week, flooding roads and crops in many provinces around Laos, according to a report from the Meteorology and Hydrology Department.
Department Senior Official, Souvanny Phonevilay, yesterday said climate change might have caused the heavy downpours to come earlier than in recent years.
She said heavy rain normally occurred during July and August, but this year it began in May.
“The water level in the Mekong River was 14.45m in Luang Prabang province on Monday,” she said.
“Today it is predicted to increase to 15.90m. In Vientiane it will rise from 9.60 meters (m) to 10.70m. In Pakxe, Champassak province it will rise from 8.16m to 8.26m,” said Souvanny.
Levels are still within the normal range but she expects them to rise further tomorrow to 15.40m in Luang Prabang, 10.70m in Vientiane and 8.34m in Pakxe. The maximum allocated river capacity, at which point a flood alert will be issued, is 17.50m in Luang Prabang, 11.50m in Vientiane and 11m in Pakxe district. Residents should be aware of these figures so they can plan ahead, she said.
Roads and crops in Huaphan, Borikhamxay and Vientiane provinces were flooded during the weekend, Souvanny reported.
In Huaphan, heavy rain on Saturday and Sunday increased the level of the Nam Ma River and flooded many hectares of sweet corn farms in Sopbao, Aed and Xiengkhor districts, according to a report from the provincial agriculture section.
The district's authorities are now recording how many farms were damaged and expect to have a clear picture of the extent of the damage by the end of this week.
In Vientiane province, the Nam Xong River rose and flooded many small roads in the province. No property was damaged but there were transport delays, said Provincial Public Works and Transport Department Office Head, Vilath Buathong.
He said Road 13 North in Kasy district was the worst-affected area, as the rain also caused landslides. The landslides blocked the road at Chieng and Kewkacham villages.
At Pongxong village a 100m stretch of road was submerged under one meter of water.
On Thursday last week, landslides stopped traffic at Kewkacham village for 14 hours and on Friday, landslides affected Chieng village for six hours, before the department removed the obstruction.
“Normal road conditions have been restored because the water has receded and the land has been cleared,” said Vilath.
In Borikhamxay province the rain increased water levels in the Nam Thone River, flooding many roads and farms. Provincial authorities have yet to report on the extent of the damage.
Souvanny predicts rain will continue to fall quite heavily in some areas, especially in central and southern provinces.
She warned people to monitor daily weather forecasts and be prepared to protect their property during floods, particularly people living in low-lying areas and along river banks.
Historically the mekomg has flooded on many occasions, climate change has nothing to do with it, most weather is cyclical, and many times climate change has been blamed but not the major cause.
The local community where I live state that this year, fields are being planted for the first time for many years as the rains are coming at just the right time. As the man telling me has farmed here for over 40 years, he should know. his grandsons are growing rice in fields which for the last ten years have been unable to support rice growing.
lets not forget, greenland was once covered by forests, africa was very fertile, now things are changing, but we have had El nino and the other one which I cannot remember, both effect weather patterns globally. yes greehouse gases do affect but in general not to rain fall and times, just generally across the globe.
man has more than done enough to cause problems with deforestation, and that is still happening even here in Thailand.
The local community where I live state that this year, fields are being planted for the first time for many years as the rains are coming at just the right time. As the man telling me has farmed here for over 40 years, he should know. his grandsons are growing rice in fields which for the last ten years have been unable to support rice growing.
lets not forget, greenland was once covered by forests, africa was very fertile, now things are changing, but we have had El nino and the other one which I cannot remember, both effect weather patterns globally. yes greehouse gases do affect but in general not to rain fall and times, just generally across the globe.
man has more than done enough to cause problems with deforestation, and that is still happening even here in Thailand.
Guns
Well the Mekong in NK is high and full of trees and logs,but nine of the locals are comparing it to the floods here over 20 tears ago!
We own a square acre of land on the bank of the Mekong that has never flooded in its history with the local school school property behind us! They are not worried either!
But it is obvious from all the debrie in the river that their was some flooding in Lao or China!
We own a square acre of land on the bank of the Mekong that has never flooded in its history with the local school school property behind us! They are not worried either!
But it is obvious from all the debrie in the river that their was some flooding in Lao or China!
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rickfarang
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I remember in 2001, the river level had risen in Nong Khai to the point that the water was lapping up against the floorboards in the shops that hang over the river! The shopkeepers were very worried!
That seems much higher than what you say it is today, so I don't know how they can compare it with the river's level 20 years ago, unless it was not as high as it was 7 years ago!
That seems much higher than what you say it is today, so I don't know how they can compare it with the river's level 20 years ago, unless it was not as high as it was 7 years ago!
JUst a point to make, nothing to do with thailand, in England the birth place of the industrial revolution. Ironbridge, there is a building in which the floods of some 100 years ago are noted as being some 15 odd feet higher than the floods in early 2000.
Before man had made a dramatic input on the land or affected nature.
The mark is about 20 odd feet above the ground you stand on.
So the Mekong flooding or any floods for that matter have probably occurred many years ago. UK lists lamnd as flood plains due to historical fact and any building on that land now has to take account of it and put in water canals to move the possible water away from buildings even on 100 yr flood plains.
Does Thailand have the same historical data or do they just pray a lot
Before man had made a dramatic input on the land or affected nature.
The mark is about 20 odd feet above the ground you stand on.
So the Mekong flooding or any floods for that matter have probably occurred many years ago. UK lists lamnd as flood plains due to historical fact and any building on that land now has to take account of it and put in water canals to move the possible water away from buildings even on 100 yr flood plains.
Does Thailand have the same historical data or do they just pray a lot
Guns
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laphanphon
uneducated guess, but sure the mekong has flooded forever, especially during a normal rainy season, as this year is compared to last 5 or so, but bit of a drought after 2000 till just last year.
2 things to consider, logging in china, so more runoff, that is probably off set by more irrigation and use of water than past, as population and better farming/irrigation and water controls in place. i would think if not using better irrigation in last 20 or so years, the run off up stream would have more of a negative effect on present flooding.
and the wettest months are just now arriving, need to get past september, stay high and dry, break out them rubber booties. be safe up there.
2 things to consider, logging in china, so more runoff, that is probably off set by more irrigation and use of water than past, as population and better farming/irrigation and water controls in place. i would think if not using better irrigation in last 20 or so years, the run off up stream would have more of a negative effect on present flooding.
and the wettest months are just now arriving, need to get past september, stay high and dry, break out them rubber booties. be safe up there.