Thai PM inspects water management in central region, floods remain in North and South

BANGKOK, June 12 (TNA) - Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra was scheduled to visit the central Sing Buri province Tuesday, in a leg of her flood prevention inspection trip from downstream to upstream areas this week, amid ongoing floods in several areas in the Thai North and South. During her visit to Sing Buri, Yingluck would inspect an area designated for water retention, covering some 70,000 rai or 112 square kilometers, where local farmers are growing rice. Concerned authorities conducted an aerial survey above the area earlier in the day and they will wait for the local farmers' harvest next month before directing water to the place. Meanwhile, ongoing flooding has remained in several areas in the Thai North and South, causing widespread damages. In the northern Sukhothai province, floods have kept flowing to three urban communities in the Muang Sukhothai Municipality, as the repair of damaged sluice gates has not finished. A dyke in the Yom River collapsed in Pak Khwae sub-district and overflows from the river have submerged a nearby highway and houses along the highway as deep as some 40 centimeters. In the southern Trang province, flooding in Muang district is, however, receding and its coverage has decreased from eight to six localities. In the Nataluang locality, hundreds of houses in four villages have been submerged and many local roads have remained impassable to small vehicles. Floods have also hit dozens of houses in Natham Nua, Khuan Pring, Natham Tai and Kok Loh Sub-districts. (TNA)