Thailand's southern floods cause $300 mln in damage to industries: FTI

BANGKOK, April 12 -- The floods devastating Thailand’s southern region since March 23 have inflicted approximately Bt8-10 billion (US$266-333 million) in damages to industrial entrepreneurs, according to Federation of Thai Industries (FTI).

FTI Chairman Payungsak Chartsutipol on Tuesday said that the floods engulfing 10 southern provinces affected small-medium sized entrepreneurs as well as large-scale business operators more severely than previous floods.

The natural disaster mainly impacted industries in sawmills, processed foods production, palm oil refineries and fisheries.

The damage included factories, industrial machinery and goods in warehouses and advanced purchase orders which could not be delivered on schedule.

However, Mr Payungsak said customers understand that the delivery and exports of goods may be delayed due to the natural disaster.

Regarding government assistance to flood-affected people, PM's Office Minister Satit Wonghnongtaey, in his capacity as chairman of the National Flood Relief Coordination Centre said the number of houses destroyed by floods in the South is still rising but initial damage was estimated at about 500 homes including Surat Thani.

The centre has set up a working group scheduled to visit flooded areas April 16-18 to gather information and listen to the need of the affected.Some villagers wanted to have new homes in the same places, but others wanted new homes as their damaged homes were located in flood-prone areas.

The information will be considered during the meeting on April 19 to find out appropriate measures to help flood victims.

It is estimated that Bt200 million is needed to repair damages. The committee now has over Bt100 million in hand and the rest will be sought from donations, Mr Satit said.

The committee will ask the Cabinet for an initial budget of Bt940 million for the Department of Highways and the Armed Forces Development Command for repairing damaged roads, particularly in Nakhon Si Thammarat, Surat Thani and Krabi, he added. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2011-04-12

i have been here 8 years. the rains and the floods come every year without fail. homes and grounds get flooded, livlihoods are lost.

year 2 of being here, repeat as above.

year 3 repeat as above

year 4 repeat as above

and so on and so on.

the news talks about it, the government say they are going to fix it and so it goes on and on and on and on and...........

why do the thai people let them get away with this. thai industry has lost 300 million dollars from this flooding alone, why dont they tell the government to finally get off their <deleted> and fix it. why...................

mai pen rai.

:jap: