CCOP-52AS/3-16 COORDINATING COMMITTEE FOR GEOSCIENCE PROGRAMMES IN EAST AND SOUTHEAST ASIA (CCOP) 52nd CCOP Annual Session 31 October - 3 November 2016 Bangkok, Thailand Member Country Report of THAILAND Submitted by Thailand Delegation (For Agenda Item 3) COORDINATING COMMITTEE FOR GEOSCIENCE PROGRAMMES IN EAST AND SOUTHEAST ASIA (CCOP) CCOP Building, 75/10 Rama VI Road, Phayathai, Ratchathewi, Bangkok 10400, Thailand Tel: +66 (0) 2644 5468, Fax: +66 (0) 2644 5429, E-mail: [email protected], Website: www.ccop.or.th ANNUAL MEMBER COUNTRY REPORT Country: THAILAND Period: 1 July 2015 – 30 June 2016 1. OUTREACH 1.1. Summary The Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) has conducted three main projects in 2015- 2016: (1) Geohazards Operation Center (GOC) (2) Status of Landslide Geohazards Projects 2016 and (3) Saline Soil Area Development Project in Northeastern Thailand (Phase 2: An Extension Yasothon and Si Sa Ket Provinces, Fiscal Year 2016). 1.2. Annual Review of Individual Technical Activities 1.2.1 Geo-hazards Operation Center (GOC) The Geo-hazards Operation Center is responsible for monitoring possible geologic hazards and natural disasters in Thailand. Through timely alerts/early warning, people can be ready for upcoming disasters and evacuate in time. A total of 107 geo-hazardous events occurred in Thailand during July 2015-June 2016. These events included 20 landslide/soil creep incidents, 4 rock falls, 6 earthquakes, 11 sinkhole collapses, 49 flash floods and 17 land subsidence/bank subsidence/road subsidence events. Status of GOC a) Center The Geo-hazards Operation is responsible for monitoring and coordinating with DMR landslide watch networks by verifying and analyzing data (Satellite data, Weather radar data, Rain gauge data), especially for flashfloods and landslides, and then coordinating with DMR landslide watch networks and relevant agencies to gather relevant local geo-hazards information (rainfall, signs of geo-hazards) for early warnings) and disseminate bulletins to relevant agencies. During July 2015-June 2016, GOC disseminated bulletins to relevant agencies, volunteers and people in risk areas through television, radio, facsimile and mobile phone (SMS) on about 200ccasions DMR stafs were in contact with DMR landslide watch networks about 11,441 times. Not only direct contact between DMR staff and local people by landline and mobile phones, social networks such as facebook line and application have also been applied for communicating among DMR’s staff, upstream communities and downstream communities and among networks in different provinces in similar watersheds. This social network results in speedy and up to date information and make people in risk areas safer from geo-hazardous events. CCOP Member Country Report: THAILAND 1 b) Landslide Drill DMR arranges workshops and drills to refresh all networks (Figure 1-2) every year. In 2016 DMR has a plan to refresh the networks in 8 provinces. These DMR networks had learn how to increase the peoples safety during potential geo-hazardous events. Operational-based landslide drill The operational-based landslide drill is conducted for 2 days, the first day is organized for a table top exercise, and the last day is for a field exercise. The main objective of the drill is to test/evaluate the landslide network systemwith respect to: 1. Monitoring 2. Warning 3. Evacuation 4. Search and Rescue Community-based Landslide drill The community-based landslide drill is conducted for 1 day by simulation of the geo-hazardous event. The officer (Tambon Administration Office) and DMR networking have a table-top exercise for themselves on how to behave during geo-hazards. Rainfall Monitoring Guards Warning (village Speaker & Stream Catch Sign of Landslide Sirens) Monitoring DMR Head of Village Inform Down Stream Villages Watch Bulletin Heavy Rain Warning and Evacuation Authorization Mayor of Tambon Inform Relevant Administration Office Agencies Figure 1 Showingthe theflowchart flowchart of of the community communit –y based – based landslide landslide watch network. watc During July 2015-June 2016, GOC Operational-based landslide drills were held in 2 provinces: Uttaradit and Nongbualamphu. Community-based landslide drills in 6 provinces: Kamphaengphet, Loei, Prachuapkhirikhan, Chonburi, Suphanburi and Ranong and 3,782 local peoples join the landslide drill. 2 CCOP Member Country Report: THAILAND Figure 2 Showing Operational-based and Community-based landslide drills in 2016. 1.2.2 Status of Landslide Geo-hazards Projects 2016 Landslide hazards in Thailand are assessed by DMR utilizing the landslide predictive model which runs under a Geographic Information System (GIS). In model calculation, the factors are geology, elevation, adjusted aspect, slope, flow accumulation, flow direction, vegetation, soil type and wetness. The result of the model is plotted in the form of a landslide hazard zone map at a scale of 1:250,000 for provincial level and landslide risk map at ascale of 1:100,000 for the whole country. There are 1,084 sub-districts located in landslide hazard zones in 54 provinces. The villages are mostly scattered in the Northern and Southern regions. In the last decade, landslide data shows that the number of landslide events and their impacts seem to be increasing. This might be resulting from the change of environment and change of settlement patterns. To cope with the landslide disaster in Thailand, DMR has conducted: 1. Landslide Risk Mapping to identify dangerous areas. DMR started preliminary surveys of landslide risk areas in the field and detailed surveys in landslide risk areas to find evidence of the extent of the areas affected in the past that had been damaged by landslides and, in sddition, flooding. As well as collecting and storing basic information such as the location of bridges, round pipe tubing square grooves the Raceway landmarks and also a survey of houses endangered or homes that could be affected by landslides and flash floods or soil flow. Location of secure areas were noted. The surveillance of landslides and the data obtained from the survey database was imported to the landslide risk maps to identify the hazardous areas at a scale of 1:10,000 for sub- districts. (Figure 3) 2. Landslide Watch Networks Training DMR has been working with the community in planning for disaster prevention systems – what system will it be, how we can set the volunteers to take turns in watching the disaster signals (e.g., stream water level), how the signal can be sent to others, and how can we evacuate people when the disaster occurs. The Landslide Watch Networks Training in the landslide vulnerable areas emphasisesthat they have to rely on themselves first. Expensive high-tech equipment cannot assure their safety from the disaster. It was themselve to get prepared and fully alert. Also, self-reliance does not mean each persone stands alone but all haves to work together. Landslide Watch Network volunteers were established with more than 2,500 persons based on 55 sub-district group communities in 2015-2016. (Figure 4) CCOP Member Country Report: THAILAND 3 Figure 3 Example Landslide Risk Mapping to Identify the Dangerous Areas Figure 4 Landslide Watch Networks Training to minimize damages and how to prevent the disaster by themselves. 4 CCOP Member Country Report: THAILAND 3. Landslide Information Coordinating Meeting The Establishment of Landslide Watch Networks needs close cooperation between the communities and relevant government officials who are responsible for disseminating the information, rescuing lives and educating the communities as well as preparing equipments needed for the disaster. (Figure 5) Also cooperation needs integration. There are many responsible organizations, which include: (1) Department of Mineral Resources (DMR). (2) Department of Meteorology (TMD). (3) Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation. (4) Provincial Offices of the Natural Resources and Environment. (5) Provincial Offices of the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation. (6) Local Administrative Offices. Figure 5 Landslide Information Coordinating Meeting between the Communities and Relevant Government Officials 1.2.3 Saline Soil Area Development Project in Northeastern Thailand (Phase 2: An Extension Yasothon and Si Sa Ket Province, Fiscal Year 2016) Many provinces in Northeastern Thailand have been affected by saline soils. One of the main factors causing saline soils in these areas are the presence of rock salts deposits at depth. Saline soils can damage agricultural land resulting in losses of agricultural production and local farmer’s incomes. In response to His Majesty the King Bhumibol advice given on 9th August 2007 about the mitigation of saline soils in Northeastern Thailand, DMR set up a 4-year project (2008-2011) called “Saline Soil Area Development Project in Northeastern Thailand”. This project aims to determine the causes of saline soils and propose appropriate methods to solve saline soil problems. The project area was located in Nam Un watershed in Haiyong subdistrict, Phang Khon district, Sakon Nakhon province. The project’s activities involved sustainable resource development (using local clays) through the mitigation of saline soil problems and local community involvement. Later, in 2012 the Saline soil Development Project in Northeastern Thailand (Phase 2: An Extension) had been carried out to disseminate approaches during by the saline soil study center at Haiyong subdistrict, Sakon Nakhon province to other saline soil areas in the northeastern part