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147761
Thu, 10/28/2010 - 14:30
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http://m.oananews.org//node/147761
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Thailand's floods kill 68 in 19 provinces: Emergency Medical Institute
BANGKOK, Oct 28 - The Emergency Medical Institute of Thailand on Thursday reported a total death toll of 68 from this month's flooding, including 54 men and 14 women in 19 provinces Oct 10-28.
The highest number of deaths was recorded at 11 each in Lop Buri and Nakhon Sawan provinces and nine deaths in Nakhon Ratchasima.
Flooding in several areas is still worrying as floodwaters in the Mun and Chee rivers will converge in Ubon Ratchathani in the next few days. About 800 residents have evacuated to higher ground.
Rising water in the Chee River has flooded low-lying areas in the northeastern province of Khon Kaen. Floodwaters in Chonnabot district is one metre deep and flowing rapidly. According to the authorities, flooding is likely to extend to wider areas.
In Kalasin, the Chee River eroded flood protection embankments in Klongchai district. The district chief has mobilised government workers and local residents to build sand embankments as the water level rises about five centimeters each day and is expected to overflow flood prevention walls if it increases by 30 centimetres.
In Phitsanulok, forest runoff inundated more than 12,000 acres of jasmine rice which was about to be harvested.
All routes of northbound trains on Thursday fully resumed operation after floodwaters continued to recede, Lampang stationmaster Panus Mongkolrit said. Previously, the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) suspended rail operations and services bound for the northern region due to deep water in the central province of Lop Buri.
The national Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department warned residents in 15 southern provinces to brace for heavy rain, flash floods and landslides.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Finance Fiscal Policy Office (FPO) on Thursday forecast that the country's 2010 Gross Domestic Product (GDP) may drop to 7.3 per cent due to the baht appreciation and the widespread floods which impacted 36 provinces in the North, Northeast and Central regions.
Boonchai Charassangsomboon, director of the FPO Bureau of International and Macroeconomic Policy, said the Thai economy is encountering the strong baht which has surged by 10.38 per cent from the beginning of 2010, second highest for currency appreciation after Japan's yen which has strenghtened by 12.71 per cent.
The nationwide floods will approximately cause Bt20 billion in damages, mostly (70 per cent) in agricultural sector, resulting in the decrease of farmland produce and the rising prices of vegetables, fruit and rice by 20-30 per cent, said Mr Boonchai.
This season's severe floods will affect economic growth by 0.2 per cent. Combined with the problem of baht surge, the 2010 GDP will likely drop by 0.3 per cent to 7.3 per cent, from earlier projected at 7.5 per cent.
The FPO however has expectations that tourism will have grown by 14.5 per cent by the end of the year, which is the high season. Most foreign arrivals at that time would be Asian tourists rather than from Europe or the United States. (MCOT online news)
The highest number of deaths was recorded at 11 each in Lop Buri and Nakhon Sawan provinces and nine deaths in Nakhon Ratchasima.
Flooding in several areas is still worrying as floodwaters in the Mun and Chee rivers will converge in Ubon Ratchathani in the next few days. About 800 residents have evacuated to higher ground.
Rising water in the Chee River has flooded low-lying areas in the northeastern province of Khon Kaen. Floodwaters in Chonnabot district is one metre deep and flowing rapidly. According to the authorities, flooding is likely to extend to wider areas.
In Kalasin, the Chee River eroded flood protection embankments in Klongchai district. The district chief has mobilised government workers and local residents to build sand embankments as the water level rises about five centimeters each day and is expected to overflow flood prevention walls if it increases by 30 centimetres.
In Phitsanulok, forest runoff inundated more than 12,000 acres of jasmine rice which was about to be harvested.
All routes of northbound trains on Thursday fully resumed operation after floodwaters continued to recede, Lampang stationmaster Panus Mongkolrit said. Previously, the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) suspended rail operations and services bound for the northern region due to deep water in the central province of Lop Buri.
The national Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department warned residents in 15 southern provinces to brace for heavy rain, flash floods and landslides.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Finance Fiscal Policy Office (FPO) on Thursday forecast that the country's 2010 Gross Domestic Product (GDP) may drop to 7.3 per cent due to the baht appreciation and the widespread floods which impacted 36 provinces in the North, Northeast and Central regions.
Boonchai Charassangsomboon, director of the FPO Bureau of International and Macroeconomic Policy, said the Thai economy is encountering the strong baht which has surged by 10.38 per cent from the beginning of 2010, second highest for currency appreciation after Japan's yen which has strenghtened by 12.71 per cent.
The nationwide floods will approximately cause Bt20 billion in damages, mostly (70 per cent) in agricultural sector, resulting in the decrease of farmland produce and the rising prices of vegetables, fruit and rice by 20-30 per cent, said Mr Boonchai.
This season's severe floods will affect economic growth by 0.2 per cent. Combined with the problem of baht surge, the 2010 GDP will likely drop by 0.3 per cent to 7.3 per cent, from earlier projected at 7.5 per cent.
The FPO however has expectations that tourism will have grown by 14.5 per cent by the end of the year, which is the high season. Most foreign arrivals at that time would be Asian tourists rather than from Europe or the United States. (MCOT online news)
