Southerners Donate Shrouds And Coffins For Victims

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Southerners donate shrouds and coffins for tsunami victims

REGIONAL DESK, Dec 28 (TNA) – As the death toll from Sunday’s devastating tsunami rose to over 1,000 this morning, residents from Thailand's southern border provinces of Yala and Phattalung began donating shrouds and coffins for the victims of Thailand’s worst natural tragedy in living memory.

Yala municipal councillor Mr. Phongphat Chindaphon said that an urgent appeal for shrouds and coffins had been sent out on local radio stations, following an emergency request from Takua Pa district in Phang-nga Province, where hundreds were killed in the disaster.

The private sector is also throwing its weight behind relief efforts, with the manager of the Yala branch of DTAC announcing that the communications giant had opened a relief centre in the town which was accepting donations of coffins.

In Phattalung, municipal mayor Mr. Kosin Phaisansilpa said that the municipality was accepting donations of money to purchase all the timber possible, and was asking carpenters to travel to Phang-nga to make coffins.

Meanwhile, in the northern city of Chiang Mai, floods of tourists and locals flocked to donate blood to help the survivors of Sunday’s tragedy.

Mrs. Oranadda Tantiphat, head of the provincial chapter of the Red Cross, said that foreigners in the province had so far donated over 20 units of blood, which would be sent to Phuket tomorrow after being tested today.

She expressed hope that more foreigners would come forward with blood donations over the next couple of days. (TNA)--E006