Thailand Live Sunday 24 Oct 2010

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Thailand Live Sunday 24 October 2010

News, Bits and Tweets

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Related topic: Thailand Live Saturday 23 October 2010

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Cabinet to consider increasing reserve fund to help flood-hit provinces

BANGKOK: -- Thailand's Ministry of Interior will ask the Cabinet, when it meets Tuesday, to approve its plan to increase reserve funds from Bt50 million to Bt100 million for provinces in the north and northeast to respond to flood-related problems, according to Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department director-general Wiboon Sanguanpong.

Mr Wiboon said Cabinet previously approved a provisional sum for Nakhon Ratchasima and Lop Buri provinces.

He said the ministry will also propose that the Cabinet specially consider measures to help each family affected by floodwaters individually after Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva had assigned a number of related agencies to study the details.

"The prime minister initially orders the agencies concerned to urgently provide the necessary equipment to help flood victims in many provinces, particularly boats and mobile toilets, which are essential. This should be managed and done within five days," said Mr Wiboon.

The director-general expressed his concern on Chaiyaphum, Khon Kaen, Ubon Ratchathani, Buri Ram, and Si Sa Ket, for they are the water passageways and will receive flood waters Nakhon Ratchasima. The central province of Ayutthaya is also worrisome, as it is the targeted province that will receive waters from Lop Buri and Chainat.

The Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department announced some districts of Nakhon Pathom and Kamphaeng Phet as disaster areas, but to a lesser degree.

Meanwhile, a top Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) official said city hall is ready to respond to floodwaters in the capital by reinforcing the concrete dyke to protect the areas. However, the dyke could not be built for 1,200 metres because of land problems. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2010-10-24

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Buddhist mark end of lent despite floods

By THE NATION ON SUNDAY

Many Buddhist devotees braved floodwaters in different parts of the country yesterday to make merit at local temples, as part of the tradition to mark the end of the Buddhist Lent period.

In Angthong's Muang district, local residents waded through one-metre-deep water in flooded tambon Jampa Lor or travelled by boat to Wat Saothong Thong to attend a religious ceremony. Local officials provided a motor boat to give people a lift to and from the temple.

In the northern province of Lampang's Thoen district, although floodwater from Huai Bong and Huai Mae Oomlong hit tambon Lom Raed municipality - where 400 homes in seven villages were flooded - for the third day, many faithful Buddhists still attended religious rituals at local temples.

Many people gathered to travel in groups by a vehicle pool system using four-wheel-drive pickup trucks to brave the strong currents that made many roads impassable.

-- The Nation 2010-10-24

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US Donates Bt1.55m Flood Help To Thai Red Cross

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All Eyes In Bangkok On Chao Phraya River

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FLOOD CRISIS

33 dead over past two weeks

By THE NATION ON SUNDAY

State agencies yesterday reported different death tolls from flood crisis in various parts of the country.

The Emergency Medical Institute reported a total of 32 flood-related deaths from October 10-23, with Nakhon Ratchasima and Buri Ram both having six deaths each.

But the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department said some 25 people were killed in floods and one person was missing from October 10-23.

The Emergency Medical Institute reported in its website that 32 people died after being swept away by floods or killed in accidents as vehicles were carried away by swift torrents.

Nakhon Ratchasima and Buri Ram had the most deaths at six cases each followed by five in Lop Buri, while there were three deaths in Khon Kaen and Phetchabun, two deaths in Rayong and Chaiyaphum, and single fatalities in Sa Kaew, Ayutthaya, Trat, Saraburi and Nonthaburi.

Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department chief Wiboon Sanguanpong said yesterday that the agency had concluded that from October 10-23, more than 1,45 million people in 196 districts in 30 provinces had been affected by flooding. He put the death toll at 25 with one person missing.

While Rayong and Trat recovered from floods, 28 other provinces were still inundated, the agency said. It initially reported that 23 roads in 10 provinces were impassable while other damage was being assessed.

Wiboon said the department had worked with provincial and local officials to assist victims at affected areas by providing 747 flat-bottom boats, 95,587 relief bags, 426 tents as temporary shelters, nine drinking water trucks, 71,738 bottles of water, 136 water pumps, 693 rescue trucks and six spotlight trucks.

The latest fatality was reported in Sing Buri yesterday. A 51-year-old man from In Buri district, Adisorn Yaowarat, was electrocuted yesterday after wading through floodwater at his home to turn off a power switch, located inches above the water.

Meanwhile, 10,000 residents in the low-lying Tambon Saen Saeb in Bangkok's Min Buri district were hit by flooding yesterday, after the Lam Sai and Saen Saeb canals rose.

A five-metre-long section of a makeshift dike on the Chao Phraya gave way in Pathum Thani's Muang district yesterday morning, causing the Pathum Thani Municipality fresh market and Wat Soparam to hit by a 1.5-metre-deep flood.

Speeding by large motorboats was blamed for causing currents that broke the river dike. Muang district chief Krai Boonbandal and local officials got 1,000 sandbags to repair the dike and water pumps to drain water out. After the area dried up, shop keepers built a brick dike in front of their shops to prevent water getting back in.

In related news, the Chao Phraya River in Ang Thong's Muang district was at 8.35 metres, some 1.5 metres above "critical" level, and water had seeped through flood barriers to inundate the Ang Thong Market and City Hall.

-- The Nation 2010-10-24

Related topic:

Thai Floods Toll Jumps To 32

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Panel to coordinate relief efforts

By THE NATION ON SUNDAY

Apirak likely to head new committee that will also oversee post-flood rehabilitation work

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva will set up a government committee to coordinate with the relevant state agencies in a bid to unify efforts to ease the flooding and respond better to the needs of affected people.

The panel will also focus on the recovery and rehabilitation work after the flood waters are gone, the prime minister told reporters yesterday at Government House after returning from a flood inspection tour in Chaiyaphum.

Abhisit said he had discussed the new committee with his adviser and former Bangkok governor Apirak Kosayodhin, who is expected to head the centre. The premier said he would issue an order to set up the panel not later than tomorrow.

Apirak said yesterday that the flood relief centre would connect the concerned state agencies to ensure integrated efforts.

The prime minister will today call on all relevant agencies to outline measures that could prevent flooding in the Central region, including Bangkok and nearby provinces, PM's Office Minister Ong-art Klampaiboon said.

Abhisit also will ask his Cabinet on Tuesday to chalk out measures to help people in the flood-hit areas after learning that about 23 provinces nationwide were submerged by the flash floods.

Ong-art said the PM had expressed his concerns over the flood situation in the central region, especially in Bangkok, Nonthaburi and Pathum Thani. He said the PM will meet the authorities and draw up measures to prevent the possibility of floods in these areas.

Meanwhile, Acting Government Spokesman Panitan Wattanayakorn said Abhisit called an urgent meeting at Government House yesterday afternoon.

The PM yesterday morning visited flood victims in Chaiyabhum's Muang district. Abhisit was scheduled to visit Maharaj Hospital in Nakhon Ratchasima at around 4pm yesterday, after coming back from Chaiyabhum, but he changed the plan and called the urgent meeting instead, said Panitan.

The prime minister wanted to discuss flood-relief measures with state agencies after he found that the flooding is now spreading in many provinces, he said.

Chaiyaphum's Muang district chief Surapoj Ratchusiri said the flood situation in the province has improved, especially the flood waters that flowed into Muang district after being released from a nearby dam. The district is now only facing problems from the rising water levels of Chi River, which has now overflowed two metres above the fringe and affected 36 villages, covering 58,000 rai of farm, he said. About 30 roads across the province were submerged under flood waters. About 100 families had no places to stay. They just sleep on roads not hit by the floods. Of late, the flood water from Chi River has flowed into Chaiyaphum's Konsawan district and will flow to nearby areas in Khon Kaen's Wang Yai district.

Meanwhile, Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation director-general Wiboon Sa-ngaunpong said he will ask the Cabinet to allocate an additional budget to help flood victims.

"We need boats and mobile toilets," he said.

He said he will ask the Cabinet to increase the budget to over Bt50 million. The department will also ask the Cabinet to consider helping every affected family.

Earlier, Interior Minister Chavarat Chanveerakul invited representatives from the Royal Irrigation Department, Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, Meteorological Department, and governors from 14 provinces in the central region to discuss and estimate the flood situation next week.

Meanwhile, Defence Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan said the armed forces were prepared to respond quickly to floods in Bangkok. He said all vehicles, including boats and helicopters, are ready for use, to access disaster areas. The armed forces will also be ready to help in the aftermath of the floods in every province.

Public Health Minister Jurin Laksanawisit sent medical teams from Rajavithi Hospital and Prasart Neurological Institute to help flood victims in Nakhon Ratchasima. Medical teams found that most of the victims were suffering from athletes' foot, stress, fatigue, diarrhoea, and headache.

People across country have donated money and relief supplies for the flood victims.

-- The Nation 2010-10-24

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Former Thaksin bodyguard fears frame-up

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Thai Constitution Court President Chat Doesn't Fear 'Dark Influences'

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Thailand's top court becomes a target for controversy again

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Thai Political Crisis Fuels Social Media Boom

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UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to visit Bangkok

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Water level in Chao Phraya River rises 20 cm, highest in this year; overflowing banks in several areas in Nonthaburi /MCOT

[george]

Flood begins receding in Lopburi, Korat; Maharat Hospital to reopen out-patient service Monday /MCOT

King, Queen, Princess Sirindhorn grant relief supplies for flood victims in Chaiyaphum /MCOT

Chao Phya has spilled in2 Bkk, affecting areas under Amarin flyover, Thonburi, Bkk Noi. Water 2 peak on Tues. -@ThaiKhuFah

[george]

Update:

Public Health Minister calls an urgent meeting to prepare for possible flooding of 124 hospitals near the ChaoPhya River. #Thaiflood /@suthichai

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Flood Recedes In Three Eastern Thai Provinces

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Bangkok, three central provinces brace for flooding

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Thai Govt: Floods Swept Away Bt50 Million In Tourism Income. Damage Could Reach 200 Million

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Sandbag walls caved in. Waters poured in2 Pathum provincial market, old provincial hall. Vendors hurry to move belongings./via@tulsathit

[george]

Flood Warning for Samut Prakan and Bangkok: King High Tide every morning from Monday to Wednesday. Tomorrow at 7:13am /via @RichardBarrow:

[george]

Thailand flooding: Call Centre 1784 reports that officials have run out of sandbags to be given away /via @tulsathit

[Maestro]

to be continued

Thailand Live Monday 25 October 2010

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