Lampang Province Declared Disaster Zone

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Lampang province declared disaster zone

LAMPANG, Aug 6 - All 13 districts of the northern province of Lampang were declared disaster zones, according to its deputy governor, while the governor of nearby Tak province ordered relief centres to be set up to assist flood victims there round the clock.

Deputy governor Utan Chavamethi said 495 villages of 85 sub-districts in Lampang are currently affected by flashfloods although the water level has receded to the normal level. However, a missing man lost in Chae Hom district, suspected of being wiped away and falling down in Wang River, has not be found after the 6th day of searching, he said.

Officials will closely investigate the damaged areas in order that the province could use its urgent financial budget of Bt50 million under the governor's authority to alleviate ongoing problems.

In lower Tak province, some roads in Yok Krabat sub-district of Sam Ngao district are impassable, as water levels are as high as 2 metres, damaging over 600 homes and about 6,000 rai of farmland.

Tak governor Samart Loifah ordered the set-up of rescue points to monitor the situation round the clock, and for a procurement of 40,000 sandbags to assist flood victims.

In the lower northern province of Phichit, 6 districts located in the vicinity of the Yom and Nan Rivers are also facing flood problems, according to the province's Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office, including the provincial seat, Taphan Hin, Bang Mun Nak, Sam Ngam, Bueng Na Rang and Pho Thale districts.

In Sam Ngam district, water flowed heavily along the Yom River from the upper provinces of Sukhothai and Phitsanulok, causing the water level to rise almost 50cm higher than the river bank and inundating over 100 households, including the business area of Sam Ngam Municipality.

Phichit governor Suwit Watcharotayangkul authorised the province's urgent financial budget to allocate Bt1 million per district to assist flood victims.

Meanwhile, Public Health's permanent-secretary Paijit Varachit said 15 provinces are now facing inundation. Twenty-three people were reported dead in eight provinces.

Almost 10,000 people fell ill as a result of the situation. Half of them have athlete's foot, followed by normal colds and skin rashes. However, an epidemic has not been declared.

The ministry had sent out 80 mobile medical units and 91,000 medication kits for assistance, according to Mr Paijit. An additional 500,000 sets of medicinal supplies are in stock at the ministry's office.

Provinces where the water level has receded have been warned to be aware of other diseases that might follow, such as conjunctivitis, leptospirosis and diarrhea. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2011-08-06