ID :
148983
Sat, 11/06/2010 - 18:14
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http://m.oananews.org//node/148983
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Over 2,700 schools affected by flood; Damages in Hat Yai about Bt10bn
NAKHON SI THAMMARAT, Nov 6 -- More than 2,700 educational institutions throughout Thailand have been affected by floods while damages inflicted by severe flooding in Hat Yai district, near the Thai-Malaysian border, earlier this week are initially estimated at not less than Bt10 billion, officials said Saturday.
Education Minister Chinnaworn Boonyakiat said after distributing relief supplies to students at a school in the southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat that he had ordered education heads in all affected areas to report on the damages to him after the Cabinet had allocated Bt36 million for repairs.
He said Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva is scheduled Sunday to visit a village in Khanom district of Nakhon Si Thammarat where a landslide took place earlier and talk to affected villagers in order to find ways to assist them.
In another development, a ship carrying liquefied petroleum gas which was struck by heavy storm and grounded on an offshore reef here on Thursday is now retrieved, officials said, adding that floodwater in the province has now receded considerably.
As many flood victims are being reported in Nakhon Si Thammarat and Surat Thani provinces, the Royal Thai Navy has redeployed the HTMS Chakri Naruebet, Thailand’s first and only aircraft carrier, to finish its assistance to flood victims in Songkhla and make for the two provinces.
It is expected that the ship would arrive at its new destination Sunday.
Meanwhile, Kawitpong Sirithananonsakul, deputy chairman of the Songkhla Chamber of Commerce, said it is estimated that damages from the flood in Hat Yai earlier this week would be around Bt10 billion.
A prime shopping attraction for Malaysians and Singaporeans, Hat Yai is hoping for the government to provide soft loans to business operators whose businesses had been damaged by the flood, Mr Kawitpong said.
He said business operators who were in debt should either have their repayment period extended or interest payments lowered.
Although floodwaters in the district have receded, it would take at least a month before business could return to normal, Mr Kawitpong added. (MCOT online news)
Education Minister Chinnaworn Boonyakiat said after distributing relief supplies to students at a school in the southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat that he had ordered education heads in all affected areas to report on the damages to him after the Cabinet had allocated Bt36 million for repairs.
He said Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva is scheduled Sunday to visit a village in Khanom district of Nakhon Si Thammarat where a landslide took place earlier and talk to affected villagers in order to find ways to assist them.
In another development, a ship carrying liquefied petroleum gas which was struck by heavy storm and grounded on an offshore reef here on Thursday is now retrieved, officials said, adding that floodwater in the province has now receded considerably.
As many flood victims are being reported in Nakhon Si Thammarat and Surat Thani provinces, the Royal Thai Navy has redeployed the HTMS Chakri Naruebet, Thailand’s first and only aircraft carrier, to finish its assistance to flood victims in Songkhla and make for the two provinces.
It is expected that the ship would arrive at its new destination Sunday.
Meanwhile, Kawitpong Sirithananonsakul, deputy chairman of the Songkhla Chamber of Commerce, said it is estimated that damages from the flood in Hat Yai earlier this week would be around Bt10 billion.
A prime shopping attraction for Malaysians and Singaporeans, Hat Yai is hoping for the government to provide soft loans to business operators whose businesses had been damaged by the flood, Mr Kawitpong said.
He said business operators who were in debt should either have their repayment period extended or interest payments lowered.
Although floodwaters in the district have receded, it would take at least a month before business could return to normal, Mr Kawitpong added. (MCOT online news)
