Operations Are Slowly Getting Back To Normal In Flood Hit Thai South

Operations are slowly getting back to normal in flood hit South

By The Nation

Flights from Bangkok to Nakhon Si Thammarat resumed yesterday with the Air Asia FD 3200 landing at 8.15am and a Nok Air flight arriving at 3.30pm.

Civil Aviation Department directorgeneral Somchai Chanrod said inspection showed that the Nakhon Si Thammarat airport, which had to be shutdown due to floods since March 27, was in a fit condition to resume and safely support flights.

Nok Air, Air Asia and Orient Thai airlines will be providing five daily flights to and from Nakhon Si Thammarat today and tomorrow, and then from Saturday onwards, daily flights to and from the province will be increased to seven as usual, Somchai said.

Director of the provincial airport, Nisit Sombat said the airport had spent Bt50 million to repair the flooddamaged runway, and that he planned to seek another Bt56 million from the government to elevate the runway and improve its quality.

Meanwhile, the floodhit province's Tha Sala Hospital resumed most of its services yesterday and is expected to go into full operation by tomorrow. This 120bed hospital has suffered damages worth Bt40 million.

HRH Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn and HRH Princess Srirasmi have graciously taken an 11yearold boy and his twoyearold brother under their patronage. They youngsters lost their parents to a landslide on March 30 in Krabi's Khao Phanom district, Governor Prasit Osathanon said yesterday.

Most of Surat Thani remains inundated despite floodwaters being continuously drained into the sea, though small vehicles can manoeuvre through some roads. However, patients suffering serious illnesses still have to be transported to Surat Thani Hospital by helicopter, the latest case being that of Uthit Reungphrom, 47, who suffered acute bleeding and had to be taken out of Chaiya District Hospital.

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said he had urged Surat Thani governor and related officials to ensure that electricity and tap water was made available in flooded areas as soon as possible. He said expected the power to be restored in a next four or five days. He has also warned people against drinking floodwater for fear of outbreaks, and has called on state agencies to provide drinking water to affected households as soon as possible. Residents in some areas were expected to get a supply later yesterday.

As flood victims in Surat Thani's Koh Samui district queued up to register for the Bt5,000 assistance money yesterday, PM's Office Minister Satit Wongnongtaey said during a teleconference with southern governors that the committee responsible for aiding flood victims, which is chaired by him, would be sending a team of officials today to inspect flood damages in Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phatthalung, Krabi, Trang, Chumphon, Songkhla, Satun and Narathiwat.

The officials will study the flood damages thoroughly before providing the Bt5,000 aid to families, he said, adding that Disaster Prevention and Mitigation officials would also go to the affected provinces today to help speed up applications for the aid.

In related news, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva yesterday ordered concerned agencies including the Finance, Justice, Social Development and Human Security ministries as well as the Government Housing Bank (GHB) to provide assistance packages to flood victims in the South.

The Finance Ministry and GHB are also thinking about offering loans to those whose homes were badly damaged by the flooding.

In addition, the Justice Ministry will also provide legal advice to those who are unable to pay their debts.

A source at Government House said yesterday that Abhisit wanted the concerned agencies to launch urgent measures of relief, especially for survivors who have lost all their belongings to the floods.

Abhisit has also told the Social Development and Human Security Ministry to look into providing homes for people who have lost everything under projects such as the "Man Kong Housing Project".

Moreover, Transport and Interior ministries have been told to cooperate more in restoring the damaged infrastructure, mainly roads, bridges and water systems.

-- The Nation 2011-04-07