Thai PM Holds Meeting With Governors Of Flood-Hit Provinces

[Lite Beer]

PM holds meeting with governors of flood-hit provinces

BANGKOK, Sept 4 – Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra will hold a meeting with governors of nine flood-stricken provinces on Sunday afternoon to listen to the latest situation and discuss more assistance to rehabilitate flood victims.

Prime Minister's secretary-general Bunthoon Supakkawanich and Permanent Secretary for Interior Wichien Chavalit convened a Sunday morning meeting with governors of nine flood-hit provinces including Sukhothai, Phichit, Angthong, Chainat, Nakhon Sawan Ayutthaya, Singburi, Phisanulok and Ubon Ratchathani.

The Director-General of the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department, representatives from the Comptroller General’s Department, the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, the Public Health Ministry, the Royal Thai Army and concerned agencies also attended the meeting.

The meeting compiled information on flood damage. Each governor reported obstacles and their flood situation plus guidelines on assistance and rehabilitation that was still needed from the government.

Meanwhile, the flood situation in several provinces has continued. In Nakhon Sawan’s municipality, officials reinforced sand embankments along the Chao Phraya River and earthen dykes along roads near the river to brace for increasing water level.

Jitkasem Nirotethanarat, mayor of Nakhon Sawan municipality said that he has ordered officials to monitor the water level in the river in order to report the situation to local residents.

In Angthong, Border Patrol police and soldiers helped Mr Jakkrit Saisroi, a handicapped man, out of his home, as floodwaters as high as over two metres covered Pa Mok district.

Mr Jakkrit was later sent safely to a local hospital.

Apart from Pa Mok district, two other districts of this province, Wiset Chai Chan and the Muang Ang Thong districts were also inundated.

In the northern province of Phichit, run-off from up north swelled the Yom River, flooding the Sam Ngam district.

At a village in Rang Nok sub-district, the water is up to 3 metres high and has flooded the area for over a month. Local residents have been using boats for local transport and started catching fish and snakes to earn a living, making around Bt2-3,000 during the inundation period.

In Phisanulok, flash flooding from the Phetchabun mountain range flowed into the Wangtong River, causing floods in Bang Krathum district. Residents had to moved their belongings, pets and other animals to higher ground.

In the northeast, tapioca farmers in Yasothon rushed to harvest their crops and sell them at reduced prices to dealers out of fear that the incessant rains would damage the produce. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2011-09-04