Thai PM: Most flooded areas to be dried out this month

BANGKOK, December 3 (TNA) - Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said on Saturday that most flooded areas in Bangkok and adjacent Nonthaburi and Pathum Thani Provinces are expected to become dry this month. Speaking to the public during her weekly radio address, "the Yingluck government meets people", broadcast live nationwide, the prime minister acknowledged that the flooding situation in most of Bangkok's eastern and western areas have been returning to normal, except those in low-lying zones in which more than 30 days are apparently needed to completely drain out floodwater. The Pheu Thai premier said that floodwater in heavily-inundated areas in Lak Hok, Don Mueang, Chaeng Wattana and Lam Luk Ka will be completely drained out by the end of this year, and that large sandbags, known as "big bags" forming as flood barriers in many areas will be gradually removed. Premier Yingluck later travelled to Ubon Ratchathani Province in the Thai Northeast to visit local flood victims and is scheduled to visit flood-affected people the central Ayutthaya Province on Sunday. Meanwhile, the Royal Thai Air Force has sought a 10-billion-baht-financial support from the government for its overall three-phrase post-flood rehabilitation plan covering its damaged air force base in Bangkok's Don Mueang area. (TNA)