22 Oct 2010 05:43:57 GMT
Source: Reuters
By Apornrath Phoonphongphiphat
BANGKOK, Oct 22 (Reuters) - At least 17 people have been killed in the worst flooding for decades in Thailand, which has swamped thousands of acres of farmland. [ID:nSGE69J0DD]
Thailand is the world's biggest rice exporter, the top rubber exporter and the second-biggest sugar exporter.
Below are some details about how severe the flooding is, the possible impact on crops and whether Bangkok will suffer.
HOW EXTENSIVE IS THE FLOODING?
Thailand's Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation said 17 people had been killed since Oct. 10 when floods hit Nakhon Ratchasima province, a gateway to the northeastern region, which is an important area for growing premium-grade rice.
The floods have spread to another 28 provinces in the north and northeast, cutting off roads and railways and forcing thousands of people to move to higher ground.
WHAT IS THE IMPACT ON CROPS?
Government officials say it is too early to give hard estimates of the damage.
However, initial surveys by the Agriculture Ministry showed minimal impact on the rice and sugar crops to be harvested from next month.
Only 100,000-200,000 tonnes of paddy from the main 2010/11 rice harvest could be damaged and the crop is now estimated to be 22.7 million tonnes. Last year it was 23.2 million tonnes, out of a total Thai crop of around 30 million.
Thailand is likely to produce around 68 million tonnes of sugar cane in the current 2010/11 crop, slightly less than the previous crop of 68.48 million.
"The flood-affected areas are not major sugar-growing regions, so damage to the cane crop is expected to be limited," said Apichart Jongsakul, a senior Agriculture Ministry official.
However, excess water on the ground could result in lower sugar content in the cane, he said.
The main rubber region in the south has not been affected by flooding, Apichart said, and production is likely to be similar to last year at around 3 million tonnes.
"Rubber output could drop right now due to the rainy season in the south, but that's not an effect of the recent flooding," he said.
HOW LONG WILL IT LAST?
Some areas could remain flooded for several weeks because heavy rain has led to high water levels in reservoirs, forcing the authorities to discharge some of the water.
The Royal Irrigation Department says thing could get back to normal by mid-November, providing rain is not too heavy between now and then.
The rainy season in the centre and north of the country normally runs from mid-May to late September or October but it started late this year and is ending later.
WILL BANGKOK BE FLOODED?
Excess water from the reservoirs in the north is flowing down to the low-lying land in central Thailand, and the Chao Phraya river that winds through Bangkok could overflow its banks in the next few days.
Some places along the riverbank in Bangkok, which sits only 2 metres (6 ft 7 inches) above sea level, are likely to be flooded as the heavy flow from the north coincides with seasonal high tides over the coming week.
However, the flooding may not be too severe as there are 2.5-metre-high dikes along the river in the capital to prevent water from overflowing onto roads.
"We have closed the gates into canals in Bangkok to prevent excess river water from getting into the inner parts of the city. We have also prepared equipment to pump out water and clear clogged drains," said Sanya Sinimith, director of the Department of Drainage and Sewerage. ($1).86 Baht) (Additional reporting by Pracha Hariraksapitak, Panarat Thepgumpanat and Ambika Ahuja; Editing by Alan Raybould)