ID :
146452
Mon, 10/18/2010 - 16:44
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http://m.oananews.org//node/146452
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Interior Minister inspects flood-hit areas in Northeast
BANGKOK, Oct 18 - Thailand's Interior Minister Chavarat Charnvirakul inspected flood-hit areas in Nakhon Ratchasima to distribute 2,000 sets of relief supplies to flood victims on Monday.
Briefed about the flood situation that several areas are under water as deep as more than one metre, the minister said flood prevention is difficult but government workers will respond with emergency equipment, essential food and water supplies and said that relief operations are proceeding satisfactorily.
Meanwhile, Army Chief Prayuth Chan-ocha ordered disaster relief centres to mobilise equipment and manpower to assist flood victims by evacuating them, distributing food and drinking water and providing medical services.
Soldiers from the civil affairs units were assigned to guard homes and properties whose owners had evacuated, to prevent looting.
Mobile disaster relief teams have been on stand-by and the Second Army Area covering 15 provinces in the Northeast face flood problem most at the moment with average floodwater levels from 50 centimetres to one metre. Army vehicles and inflatable boats were used to evacuate local residents.
Military engineers are helping repair bridges damaged by floods, Gen Prayuth said.
Helicopters and larger boats have been surveying remote areas to help those still stranded.
He asked the public to donate necessities to help flood victims.
Disaster Prevention and Mitigation director-general Vibul Sanguanpong confirmed that that Nakhon Ratchasima and Prachinburi were hardest hit by flooding. Four deaths were reported in Nakhon Ratchasima.
Areas surrounding Khao Yai National Park were severely affected by forest runoff. Mr Vibul ordered state officials to be on alert for flash floods and high tides this week as a new storm will approach the country.
In Prachin Buri, Kabin Buri district was hit by the worst flood in the past 10 years with 50-metre-deep water. Flood-hit Kabin Buri market and business areas were forced to close and residents had to move to higher floors
of their homes and are awaiting relief from local authorities.
Kabin Buri and Na Di districts have been under water for four days already and their flood situations remain worrisome because water levels continues rising. However, local officials met to coordinate their response and to prepare for further flooding.
Flood waters in Nakhon Ratchasima province has ravaged 107 schools.
In response to the situation, Education Minister Chinnaworn Boonyakiat instructed local education-related officials to inspect the damage and to coordinate with provincial administration agencies and unaffected
schools in helping repair buildings and classrooms.
Reconstruction and rehabilitation of the flood-impacted zones is expected to be completed ahead of the beginning of the second semester at end of October. The schools currently remain closed for October’s week-long break.
Meanwhile, northbound rail service has been disrupted because stretches of track in Nakhon Sawan have been inundated. Currently the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) suspended operations of almost all northern route trains.
In the northeastern province of Si Sa Ket, incessant rain triggered forest run-off from the Phanom Dong Rak Mountain Range to overflow residence, farmlands, temples and schools in districts along the Thai-Cambodian border, in particular Phu Sing, Khukhan, Khun Han and Kantharalak.
Reservoirs are almost overflowing, so floodwaters are likely to flow to Si Sa Ket’s provincial seat in the next three days and inundate surrounding areas.
In another development, the central province of Lop Buri on Monday designated all 11 districts as disaster zones and the governor instructed related agencies to aid flood victims. (MCOT online news)
Briefed about the flood situation that several areas are under water as deep as more than one metre, the minister said flood prevention is difficult but government workers will respond with emergency equipment, essential food and water supplies and said that relief operations are proceeding satisfactorily.
Meanwhile, Army Chief Prayuth Chan-ocha ordered disaster relief centres to mobilise equipment and manpower to assist flood victims by evacuating them, distributing food and drinking water and providing medical services.
Soldiers from the civil affairs units were assigned to guard homes and properties whose owners had evacuated, to prevent looting.
Mobile disaster relief teams have been on stand-by and the Second Army Area covering 15 provinces in the Northeast face flood problem most at the moment with average floodwater levels from 50 centimetres to one metre. Army vehicles and inflatable boats were used to evacuate local residents.
Military engineers are helping repair bridges damaged by floods, Gen Prayuth said.
Helicopters and larger boats have been surveying remote areas to help those still stranded.
He asked the public to donate necessities to help flood victims.
Disaster Prevention and Mitigation director-general Vibul Sanguanpong confirmed that that Nakhon Ratchasima and Prachinburi were hardest hit by flooding. Four deaths were reported in Nakhon Ratchasima.
Areas surrounding Khao Yai National Park were severely affected by forest runoff. Mr Vibul ordered state officials to be on alert for flash floods and high tides this week as a new storm will approach the country.
In Prachin Buri, Kabin Buri district was hit by the worst flood in the past 10 years with 50-metre-deep water. Flood-hit Kabin Buri market and business areas were forced to close and residents had to move to higher floors
of their homes and are awaiting relief from local authorities.
Kabin Buri and Na Di districts have been under water for four days already and their flood situations remain worrisome because water levels continues rising. However, local officials met to coordinate their response and to prepare for further flooding.
Flood waters in Nakhon Ratchasima province has ravaged 107 schools.
In response to the situation, Education Minister Chinnaworn Boonyakiat instructed local education-related officials to inspect the damage and to coordinate with provincial administration agencies and unaffected
schools in helping repair buildings and classrooms.
Reconstruction and rehabilitation of the flood-impacted zones is expected to be completed ahead of the beginning of the second semester at end of October. The schools currently remain closed for October’s week-long break.
Meanwhile, northbound rail service has been disrupted because stretches of track in Nakhon Sawan have been inundated. Currently the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) suspended operations of almost all northern route trains.
In the northeastern province of Si Sa Ket, incessant rain triggered forest run-off from the Phanom Dong Rak Mountain Range to overflow residence, farmlands, temples and schools in districts along the Thai-Cambodian border, in particular Phu Sing, Khukhan, Khun Han and Kantharalak.
Reservoirs are almost overflowing, so floodwaters are likely to flow to Si Sa Ket’s provincial seat in the next three days and inundate surrounding areas.
In another development, the central province of Lop Buri on Monday designated all 11 districts as disaster zones and the governor instructed related agencies to aid flood victims. (MCOT online news)
