PM Thaksin Visits Flooded Provinces

[Jai Dee]

PM THAKSIN HEADS TO FLOOD-STRICKEN PROVINCES TODAY TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM HIMSELF

Prime Minister THAKSIN SHINAWATRA yesterday traveled down to SONGKHLA Province to attend an urgent meeting with the governors of the six southern provinces of Thailand, which are currently encountering floods. The premier and the governors are attempting to find solutions and allocating an emergency budget.

Prime Minister THAKSIN met with representatives from SURATTHANI, NAKHON SI THAMMARAT, PHATTHALUNG, SATUN, SONGKHLA, and YALA yesterday evening, and talked about the preliminary assistance to flood-stricken people. The premier is especially worried for the heavily-hit NAKHON SI THAMMARAT Province.

Dr. THAKSIN will today inspect the flooded areas in the southern provinces. Earlier this morning, he visited SONGKHLA and gave out relief supplies to the troubled locals.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 26 November 2005

[Jai Dee]

PM THAKSIN HAS ASSIGNED RELATED OFFICERS TO INSTALL 10 ADDITIONAL WATER PUMPS IN NAKHON SI THAMMARAT

Prime Minister THAKSIN SHINAWATRA said in his 'Prime Minister THAKSIN Talks to the People' radio address that he had a meeting yesterday with the four governors of SURAT THANI (สุราษฎร์ธานี), SONGKHLA (สงขลา), PATTHALUNG(พัทลุง ) and NAKHON SI THAMMARAT (นครศรีธรรมราช), as well as the mayor of HAT YAI (หาดใหญ่) District of SONGKHLA Province. The discussion concerned with the solutions for flood problems.

Currently, every province can handle the situation on their own, and they have effective connections with related units, especially the warnings sent by the Meteorological Department to the provincial governors via telephone and short message services.

The premier also talked about the heavy rainfall at SAMUI (สมุย) Island that he has instructed SURAT THANI Governor to install water pumps to prevent possible flash flood.

As for the situation in NAKHON SI THAMMARAT where the province has asked for 10 more water pumps because the previously installed 40 water pumps are inadequate, the premier has assigned Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister SUDARAT KEYURAPHAN (สุดารัตน์ เกยุราพันธ์) to take care of the matter.

Finally, the Prime Minister said that flood-stricken agriculturist areas will be inspected after the level of water decreases in order to help the farmers.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 26 November 2005

[Jai Dee]

PRIME MINISTER INSPECTS FLOODS IN SEVERAL PROVINCES

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has handed out basic neccesities to around 1,000 households in Hatyai (หาดใหญ่) district in Songkhla which have been hit by flooding.

This morning the prime minister's delegation arrived in Hatyai and inspected the flooding condition in the district, where more than 1,000 homes have been flooded. The prime minister then got onto a helicopter to further inspect floods in Phatthalung province.

Mr. Thaksin complimented the provincial governors down south for their quick responses to the floods and said that he will allocate both short-term and long-term budgets for prevention and mitigation of flood problems in the south.

The prime minister is also scheduled to travel to Nakhon Srithammarat and Narathiwat today to inspect the several mudslides in the provinces.

Last night Phuket was hit with heavy downpour which caused congestions along various roads in the municipal area, while a landslide killed two people in Patong (ป่าตอง) district.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 26 November 2005

[PanzerJohn]

Oh no! not a crackdown on flooding!

[joe beets]

PM Thaksin Visits Flooded Provinces, To Address The Problem Himself

Hello, Problem.

jb

[awarrumbungle]

I was under the impression that it floods everyyear down there!!

Why does this have to be a recurring problem. Is it necessary to reinvent the wheel.

What is causing this flooding; deforestation? poor drainange? or is this just something that can't be fixed like a living under a volcano?