On VHF a repeater network with the same callsign supports the operations.

The flooding rains have been very strong in the city of Buenos Aires and surrounding areas, and in the city of La Plata, which is the capital of the Province of Buenos Aires, located 60 kilometers south of the City of Buenos Aires. So far 57 people have died, 51 of them in La Plata.

The frequencies that are being used on 40 meters are 7070 and 7120, in addition to VHF and UHF repeaters kept on alert for the radio club La Plata, LU8DZE.
There are also a lot of communication activity through Facebook Emergenciaslu Amateur group, maintained by the sera, Amateur Radio Emergency Service of Argentina.

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.

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.

The Bangkok Post newspaper has reported that amateur radio operators in Nakhon Ratchasima and Chaiyaphum are helping authorities coordinate rescue and relief efforts.

The IARU member Radio Amateur Society of Thailand (RAST) on its website reports that the communications talents and capabilities of radio amateurs are being put to good use.

Nakhon Ratchsima is Thailand?s biggest province, which has a population of 2.7 million in 32 districts with 3,700 villages.

The natural disaster has destroyed more than 80,000 hectares of rice paddies, most just weeks away from harvest time that provides many farmers with their annual source of income.

The Nakhon Ratchasima Amateur Radio Association (NRARA) has set up a coordinating centre using the call sign HS3AN.

Located at the provincial hall, it has been working closely with government agencies, relaying details about the emergency situation to officials and relief workers.

NRARA President, Charnchai Siriamornpan HS4XU, said amateur radio operators had also pitched in to help soldiers, volunteers and foundation workers get food to flood victims and ferry women are in advanced stages of pregnancy to hospital.

The Bangkok Post said that government licensed amateur radio users are allowed to communicate with one another using VHF and HF (short wave) radio communications. They often operate in areas where mobile phone signals can’t reach.

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

PARS emergency communications organiser Asad Marwat AP2AUM that while the linking of so many repeaters will cause a tail squelch delay, given the circumstances and lack of proper equipment it will be acceptable.

A convoy of radio amateurs is relocating a repeater already installed at Changla and relocating it to Malakand Heights, so it can be linked into the emergency communications system via Nowshera.

Asad AP2AUM said that a team of radio amateurs will be transporting via a helicopter a VHF base station with a high gain antenna, and subject to the availability of a 12v car battery all should be up and running.

As the massive flood disaster that has ravaged Pakistan for the past month shows no signs of easing, PARS continues to collaborate with Islamabad Jeep Club members and the Pakistan Academy of Family Physicians to provide support for those affected.

Some 30 radio amateurs are involved in providing emergency communications in response to the disaster estimated to have affected 20 million people and claimed 1500 lives.

Jim Linton VK3PC
Chairman,
IARU R3 Disaster Communications Committee