The use of HF frequencies by RNRE in Italy for the flooding in the North West of their country and TRAC for the Earthquake in Van province of Turkey has finished. There is no further need to take care when operating around 3.643, 3.760MHz, 7.045-7.060 and 7.092-7.095 MHz.

Thanks to all amateurs who kept the frequencies clear for emergency traffic.

Following flash flooding in the Liguria and Tuscany regions of North
West Italy last week which killed 10 people, further heavy rain has
struck the region killing more people in flooding. The Amateur Radio
Voluntary communications group RNRE has been asked by their government
to provide additional radio communications in the affected areas from
Friday 4th November until at least Monday 7th November.
HF Frequencies which may be used in Italy are 3.760MHz, 3643MHz and
7.045-7.060MHz. Amateurs are asked to listen carefully before using
these frequencies to avoid causing QRM to emergency nets.

Severe flooding that has claimed the lives of over 370 lives in less than three months is now closing in on the capital Bangkok as the authorities struggle to divert as much water as possible around the city and reinforce barriers to keep remaining areas dry.

But according to Tony Waltham, HS0ZDX, for many areas to the north of the capital it is too late and hundreds of communities there are uninhabitable with flood water more than two or three metres deep in some areas.

Under water is agricultural land reducing the crop yield, factories causing suspensions or disruptions, and housing. The economic cost is put at $3 billion. The heavy monsoon earlier rain hit Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos and the Philippines.

Amateur radio has been playing an ongoing role in this disaster with operators helping to co-ordinate relief and rescue work using VHF two-way communications and repeaters, HF communications in the 40 metre band (7060-7063 KHz).

As well there are several Echolink conference rooms, including the “Bangkok”, “Thailand” and “HS0AC” conferences. (A list of VHF frequencies and repeaters can be found at the RAST website http://www.qsl.net/rast).

Tony HS0ZDX reports a special centre for amateur radio communications has been established by Thailand’s regulator, the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) using the callsign HS0AB at Bangkok’s second airport, Don Mueang, which is now besieged by flooding itself.

Among the areas inundated by more than a metre of water is the campus of the Asian Institute of Technology, where the Radio Amateur Society of Thailand’s HF club and contest station HS0AC is located.

Sadly, all the transceivers and equipment at desktop level or higher, are now submerged under flood water.

Another victim of the flooding was a RAST-sponsored FCC Volunteer Examiner Co-ordinator (VEC) exam session that had been scheduled for October 22 and had to be cancelled, despite 35 candidates having registered.

The amount of rainfall in Thailand since July has been unprecedented. Based on government figures the total runoff from a series of tropical storms is now estimated to comprise around 20,000 million cubic metres of water.

More than half this volume still to make its way through rivers, canals and pumping stations past Bangkok to reach the Gulf of Thailand.

It has been estimated that between 400 and 500 million cubic metres can be drained each day, which means that the ongoing crisis is likely to last at least another 20 days, if there is no more heavy rainfall — however, the rainy season has not yet ended.

Adding to the threat level for the remaining dry areas in the capital city over the next few days are a series of peak sea tides forecast for October 30 and October 31 that should cause river levels to rise even higher than their record levels at present.

More than 10 million people have been directly affected by flooding so far, while the Thai Government has been encouraging residents of Bangkok, which has a population of some 12 million, to evacuate if possible and to move their valuables upstairs as a precaution, while a public holiday has been declared for 21 provinces from October 27-31.

Many industrial parks north of Bangkok have been inundated despite all attempts to keep flood water at bay and this has seriously disrupted Thailand’s manufacturing sector and has also caused supply chain shortages for in several industries.

Most of Bangkok is low-lying, being just one metre or less above sea level, while Thailand’s Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has predicted that the floods will take from four to six weeks to recede.

People are also being asked to boil tap water as flood water briefly breached the canal that provides the city with its drinking water and bottled water is now in short supply in shops and department stores around Bangkok.

Tony HS0ZDX describes it as a time of uncertainty for most residents of Bangkok, although he remains protected for the moment.

– Jim Linton VK3PC, Chairman IARU Region 3 Disaster Communications Committee, and Tony Waltham, HS0ZDX RAST International and IARU Liaison.

Radio Amateurs in Turkey remain active in the response to the earthquake in Van province on 23rd October.

Assistance has been given by TRAC in setting up VHF/UHF networks to relief agencies and some traffic is also being carried on the 144MHz band. Red Crescent, the Ministry of Health, local law enforcement agencies and the local command centre have been served so far.

The need for HF operations is reducing, however there is still a government station which may operate on 7.092MHz USB. Amateurs are still requested to be careful when operating between 7.092 and 7.095MHz to avoid interference to the ongoing relief operations.

On 23rd October at 10.41UTC a magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck the Van region of Eastern Turkey causing great loss of life and hundreds of casualties. Radio Amateurs from the Turkish national society TRAC are responding to assist with communications in the area.

There are some frequencies in use on HF, currently used to link with Government resources and this is meaning that some frequencies outside the amateur bandplan and normal usage are being used until more equipment gets to the region. When this happens, more traffic should move to the normal Emergency Communications Centre of Activity frequencies.

Please avoid causing QRM to emergency traffic on 7.092 MHz USB. USB is being used to allow communications with a government station.

More information will be posted on this website when it is available from TRAC.

The death toll from the most devastating flooding to hit Thailand in over 60 years following heavy rains since late July has now risen to almost  300.

Nearly three million people are said to have been affected by the floods and the disaster has caused serious damage to the country`s agriculture and other industries, with Japan`s Toyota, Sony and Honda along with USA’s Western Digital — and many other factories to the north of Bangkok — suspending production until the situation improves.

Damage so far has been assessed at more than 20 billon baht and 26 out of the country’s 77 provinces are affected, while Bangkok is bracing for a large amount of run-off water that is about to reach the city and which  will coincide seasonal high tides that will make it harder for the flood waters to flow out to sea.

Amateur radio has been assisting with flood relief communications, helping victims in the affected areas and operators are using the Radio Amateur Society of Thailand (RAST) club station callsign HS0AC and a special flood relief centre with the callsign HS0AB has been established at Bangkok’s  Don Mueang Airport.

Please be formally advised that Thai radio amateurs are standing by on 144.900MHz, 145.000 MHz and 144.9375 MHz (VHF) as well as on frequencies of 7.063 and 7.060 MHz in the 40-metre HF band.

RAST is actively assisting in flood relief operations and the society is accepting donations by bank transfer to its Savings Account at the Krung Thai Bank (KTB), Pradipat Branch, Account Number 034-1-86101-4.

Here is a video showing activities at the special flood relief amateur radio station at Don Mueang Airport (in Thai):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1m84ZW1xH8s

RAST is also posting information about developments to its web site at www.qsl.net/rast

RAST would like to thank the IARU in advance for notifying member societies of this disaster and of the emergency frequencies being used to help flood victims in Thailand at this time.

Owing to the volume of water and continuing rainfall, this emergency is likely to continue for many more days and we will notify the IARU Region 3 once things return to normal.

Sincere 73,

Tony Waltham, HS0ZDX

The Radio Amateur Society of Thailand (RAST) under the Patronage of His Majesty the King.

– Jim Linton VK3PC, Chairman, IARU Region 3 Disaster Communications Committee

via Ken Yamamoto JA1CJP, Secretary, IARU Region 3.

Operators are requested to QSY away from 7.060-7.063MHz due to use by Thailand hams during the flood emergency.

Thai authorities continue to battle the country’s worst floods in decades with the death toll at some 280. The capital of Bangkok is under threat dispute sandbagging.

In outlying areas the floods have destroyed crops, inundated factories and damaged the homes or livelihoods of millions of people. About 110,000 people have sought refuge in shelters.

The flooding will continue for a week. The high tide will prevent the floodwaters escaping to the sea for a day or two while the recovery efforts may take a year.

The majority of flood radio traffic is being carried on the 2-metre band by volunteers, some which have had their homes inundated, and it’s not possible to estimate how many radio amateurs are involved.

The RAST headquarters station HS0AC is under threat from the flood waters. RAST International Liaison Officer Tony Waltham, HS0ZDX, has sent out an appeal to members and friends advising them of the extent of the flood disaster.

Earlier the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission of Thailand donated an amateur radio repeater for use in flood relief communications.

– Jim Linton VK3PC, Chairman, IARU Region 3 Disaster Communications Committee.

Doug Mercer VO1DM, Emergency Coordinator IARU R2 of Area A, on September 14, reported about Tropical Storm Maria: “ It is now evident that Tropical Storm Maria will have a direct impact on Newfoundland, particularly the Avalon Peninsula”.

Also Doug reported that “ As a result, full activation of a NL Hurricane/CANWARN Net will commence at 1430Z Friday and will continue for the duration of the event. We will be using 3.740 MHz for the HF Net and the NL Linked VHF repeater system”. Doug VO1DM, reported that they can have access to the NL Linked repeater system through Echo Link VO1ARG repeater in Argentia, NL. NL

You can see the link: http://weatheroffice.gc.ca/hurricane “

The Canadian Weather Office link is forecasting 60-80mm of rain as the storm passes over Newfoundland with winds gusting to 80-100km/h. Like most hurricanes or tropical storms it will change to a sub-tropical storm as it crosses the Atlantic back towards Europe.

On Sunday the 3rd of July, an early start was required to get inside the Garda Cordon. The MCP was set-up and ready to operate by approximately 09:30, and was shut down by 13:00.  EI7IG and EI5GOB were on-site for the duration and were pleasantly surprised to find that they had a very nice vantage point from which to view the Tall Ships leaving Waterford Harbour.

Two earthquakes of magnitudes M4.4 and M5.2 struck the Region of Murcia (southeastern Spain) in the evening of 11th April, causing at least 8 dead and 167 wounded in the town of Lorca, due mainly to debris falling from some buildings.

The Spanish Government has activated the National Plan for Earthquake Risks, sending to the area the following resources:  Military Unit for Emergencies (225 people equipped for Search and Rescue tasks), National Police and Civil Guard (400 people plus SAR dogs and gear to work underground, two trucks for special tasks and three helicopters) and the Spanish Geological Survey (mobile SATCOM unit).

The Spanish Red Cross has sent to the area 24 ambulances, 3 field hospitals and 6 teams to provide shelter facilities for 3.750 people. The Murcia Regional Authority is co-ordinating the operations through its 112 Operations Center and a Mobile Command Post, providing also more than 100 ambulances and a field hospital. Local police and firefighter teams are also working in the area.

It is estimated that around 20.000 people spent the night out of their homes due to aftershocks ranging from M0.7 to M4.0. The local hospital in Lorca has been evacuated due to some structural damages.

The REMER (Red Radio de Emergencia, Emergency Radio Network), an official emergency unit of the Spanish National Directorate of Civil Protection and Emergencies (DGPCE) made up of amateur radio operators, was deployed to the affected areas as one of the emergency communications assets enlisted in the National Plan for Earthquake Risks. REMER units used VHF simplex and repeater links to provide additional communication channels with the authorities.

A national network in HF was also activated to send real-time information to the DGPCE HQ in Madrid. As a government unit, REMER usually uses frequencies outside the amateur bands to pass emergency traffic.

The telecommunications companies operating in Spain deployed also 6 mobile base stations to the area in order to accommodate the expected increase in GSM traffic.