Most provinces could be hit by heavy rains: Meteorological Department

BANGKOK: -- The Meteorological Department Monday warned people around the country to brace themselves for heavy rains Monday and Tuesday.

The people living near mountains, waterways and rivers were also warned to brace themselves for possible flash floods.

The department said the heavy rains would be unleashed by influence of a low pressure ridge over the North and Northeast coupled with influence of a depression storm in the middle part of the China Sea.

-- The Nation 2008-09-29

Well, I guess I'll wait to wash the car until next week.

Best of luck to everyone who might be truly affected by this.

Cor - a bit late that one. Absolutely persisted down here in Hua Hin yesterday!

Flood death toll rises to 23: Public Health Ministry

BANGKOK: -- The death toll from flooding which wrecked havoc much of the country has risen to 23 with almost half being children and the elderly, a senior health ministry offcial said Tuesday.

Deputy Permanent Secretary for Public Health Dr. Siriporn Ganchanah spoke in her capacity as president of the Flood-Relief Operation Centre that for the past 19 days, mobile units under the patronage of HRH Crown Prince Mahavajiralongkorn provided medical care for 230,588 patients in many provinces

Among the dead, almost half were children under age 12 and the elderly. The rest were those in the work-force age, Dr. Siriporn said.

Speaking after a meeting of the centre's working committee, the senior public health official said the committee agreed to have the Bureau of Epidemiology study more measures for further disease prevention.

Public Health Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung instructed ministry officials to provide the best medical care for villagers both in terms of mental health problems created by stress and water-borne diseases such as fever and foot infections.

In an effort to ensure medical access to flood-stricken areas, more mobile medical units will be dispatched to flood victims living in remote areas and having congenital diseases such as asthma, epilepsy, diabetes, and high blood pressure, Dr. Siriporn.

-- TNA 2008-09-30