Thailand's Flood Death Toll Rises To 223

[webfact]

Thailand's flood death toll rises to 223

BANGKOK, Nov 15 - Continued floods across Thailand has brought the total number of deaths to 223 on Monday, while the country's Economic Ministers will convene Monday afternoon to consider additional flood-relief measures.

The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation has announced that the total death toll in flooding which hit the central and northeastern regions fromOct 10-Nov 14 rose to 152 as of Sunday, while 71 deaths were recorded in torrential floods in the South which were caused by a tropical storm and heavy rains.

The ministry's announcement said that so far 39 provinces in the North and Northeast were affected by flooding and that although the situation has eased, flood conditions remain in 57 districts of 13 provinces.

In the southern region, 12 provinces were hit by the tropical storm which triggered flash floods in the areas from Oct 30 through Nov 14. Among them, 46 districts of five southern provinces are still under floodwaters.

The Meteorological Department on Monday warned that the northeast monsoon which prevails over the South and the Gulf of Thailand will strengthen during Nov 15-17 and heavy rainfall is expected over the southern east coast with stronger winds and higher waves in the Gulf.

In the Northeast, temperature is dropping 1-3 degrees Celsius due to the intense high pressure area from China which has covered upper Thailand and the South China Sea.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva is scheduled to chair the Economic Ministers meeting Monday afternoon to discuss additional relief measures for flood victims as well as solutions to the rising prices of eggs as shopkeepers take advantage of flooding as an excuse to raise prices. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2010-11-15

[asiawatcher]

It would be far cheaper long term to address the control of water rather than handouts to disaffected families. Blankets and food are substantially cheaper yes but controlling water can harness power, irrigation and dams to hold water all year around. My take on it anyway. Sad for the continuing unnecessary deaths. One D9 can cut canals in hours and create dykes and if it ruffles a few farmers for loss of 12' of their land so what! Better than dying in a flood.... But it does need Govt intervention now and engineers can help more than a bunch of crooks hiding as religious NGO's.

[george]

Cabinet approves Bt4 billion to hire flood victims, develop workforce skills

BANGKOK, Nov 15 – Thailand's economic ministers on Monday agreed to invest some Bt4 billion ( US$133 million) to implement job projects for flood victims and develop their skills, according to Tarradon Piamphongsant, deputy secretary general to the prime minister.

Regarding employment, the Labour Ministry was urged to speed up its survey of the number of unemployed persons due to the inundation in order to assist them quickly.

The economic ministers acknowledged a report on the overall flood situation and assistance to relieve flood victims. Agencies concerned were instructed to apply the rest of their budget for fiscal year 2009-2010 to aid the affected people. Currently, 20 provinces remained under water. There are 3.8 million flood-hit households and 10.8 million rais (4.27 million acres) of farmland have been damaged.

The Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Co-operatives is assessing non-performing loans (NPL) as some debtors died or were otherwise affected by the floods.

The bank will offer zero interest for these customers and will seek financial support from the government to offset the cost. Mr Tarradon added that when the economic cabinet finishes determining the total cost of damages, the officials will propose it to the Cabinet for further consideration.

Meanwhile, Minister Attached to the Prime Minister's Office Satit Wonghnongtaey in his capacity as chairman of the committee to follow up flood assistance implementation said the government will extend the period for local authorities to submit names of people affected by flood to seek help from the government to Nov 25.

All name lists are expected to be completed by the end of this month.

Convening a meeting with governors of flood-affected provinces by video conference on Monday, Mr Satit said according to the initial survey, some 632,000 homes in upper Thailand have been affected.

Local government offices submitted only 60,000 names to the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department on Nov 12 and the Government Savings Bank has already compensated more than 20,000 households.

Mr Satit also said compensation for agricultural damage will be discussed by the Cabinet tomorrow and governors have been asked to speed up conducting a survey to evaluate the damage caused by flood as the Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva ordered compensation money to be paid to all flood victims within two months.

He expressed his concern during the meeting about the criteria for the initial assistance to give each family affected by flood 5,000 baht (about US$165) and asked the civil sector in each community to work with local authorities to collect names of those eligible to receive assistance from the government. Accurate data is needed, he said.

Initial figures show more than 330,000 families in the southern provinces have been affected, he added.

Meanwhile, the centre to help flood victims warned locals in the South to brace for possible mudslide in Nakhon Si Thammarat, Surat Thani, Chumpon, Phangnga and Phatthalung. The number of deaths nationwide was recorded at 224 including 72 deaths in the South.

In the southern province of Songkhla, local fisheries office announced that there are over 200 flood-damaged fishing boats in the province's seven districts as of Nov 1.

Of the total damage valued around Bt41 million (US$1.3 million), 179 of the boats were smaller than 10 metres.

Fifty boats were commercial fishing boats, larger than 10 metres, and 476 fishing nets were swept away by waves.

The Fisheries Department can provide assistance to those affected by natural disasters up to Bt14.8 million (about US$490,000) according to Finance Ministry regulations. Each owner of fishing boats of size smaller than 10 metres will receive Bt 30,000 (about US$1,000) compensation, Bt95,000 ($3,100) for those of over 10 metres. Each fisherman will receive 10,000 baht ($330) for damaged fishing equipment. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2010-11-15