5 mill or 2 mill?

5 mill or 2 mill? 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

DAMAGES FROM THE RECENT FLOODS: FIVE BILLION

LOSSES TO THE ECONOMY: TWO BILLION

5 mill or 2 mill? 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

DAMAGES FROM THE RECENT FLOODS: FIVE BILLION

LOSSES TO THE ECONOMY: TWO BILLION

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Ahhhhhhh........ No need to shout, I'm not deaf .........yet.

Third Army gives warning

Calls for more flood alert systems in North

CHIANG MAI: -- The Third Army chief has proposed that disaster warning systems be set up at all villages in waterlogged areas in the North, after the weekend's flooding caused at least five billion baht worth of damage in Chiang Mai alone.

Lt-Gen Picharnmet Muangmanee, who also heads the Third Army's disaster relief centre, said there were still too few warning systems in flood-prone areas in the North. Those that existed were not good enough and should be upgraded, he said.

He said more warning systems should be procured for villages in all waterlogged areas in the region, and the systems should be sophisticated enough to give warnings to people in lowland areas at least 6 to 12 hours in advance of floods.

Lt-Gen Picharnmet yesterday visited soldiers' families affected by the floods in Chiang Mai and presented them with food and other basic necessities.

Around 1,000 other affected families and 719 soldiers of the Chiang Mai-based 33rd Army Circle also received flood relief aid bags donated in the name of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince's son, HRH Prince Dipankararasmijoti.

Deputy Interior Minister Somchai Sunthornwat said in Chiang Mai yesterday that last weekend's flooding had caused damage valued at least five billion baht in the province.

The damage caused to businesses in downtown Chiang Mai alone amounted to about two billion baht.

He pledged to ask the cabinet for additional funds to help flood victims.

Boonlert Buranupakorn, the mayor of Chiang Mai municipality, said the floods had left behind around 700 tonnes of rubbish. However, he added, the municipality was confident that all the rubbish could be cleared up within one week.

Ratthawut Sukmee, chief of the provincial public health office, said about 3,000 people had so far sought medical treatment, largely for minor illnesses such as colds and athlete's foot. There was no report of any epidemic outbreak.

Deputy Prime Minister Suwat Liptapanlop, who was visiting flood victims in Chiang Mai and other affected northern provinces, warned all agencies concerned to stay alert as a low pressure ridge was moving across the region.

The flood left two people dead, 55 others injured, and almost 74,00 rai of damaged farmland in Chiang Mai province alone.

Sukhothai governor Sukij Charoenrattanakul said yesterday that he believed his province would be safe from flooding. But in Mae Hong Son, there were reports that flood-hit Pai district was facing a severe shortage of drinking water, food and other basic necessities.

--Bangkok Post 2005-08-19