15 provinces affected; EMIT sends in medical teams

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- Dr Chatree Charoencheevakul, secretary-general of the Emergency Medical Institute of Thailand, said yesterday that the provinces affected by flooding are Sukhothai, Angthong, Pichit, Ayutthaya, Uthai Thani, Chai Nat, Uttaradit, Chiang Rai, Nakhon Sawan, Lampang, Lamphun, Suphan Buri, Sa Kaew, Phetchabun and Saraburi, with the first five being the hardest hit.

EMIT has sent medical teams to the areas to evaluate the damage and conduct a survey of medical needs in coordination with local authorities.

So far, more than 11 charity foundations and 20 rescue boats are helping affected residents in Sukhothai. The EMIT has boats and helicopters on standby and can be contacted 24-hours via the 1669 hotline.

Sukhothai's medical chief Chinorot Leesawat said an initial survey found that 10,000 people in six communities of 2,600 households were affected by the flooding.

Teams of medical doctors and psychiatrists will be sent to Sukhothai and Ayutthaya to provide care to flood victims, Deputy Public Health Minister Surawit Khonsomboon said yesterday.

His ministry has ordered hospitals in both provinces to be ready to provide medical assistance to affected residents. Rapid mobile medical units will stand by to provide medical services, while equipment and medication will be kept ready.

The Department of Mental Health will be sending psychiatrists to affected areas to help victims handle stress.

Director general Narong Sahametapat said he has ordered the Mental Health Crisis Assessment and Treatment Team (MCATT) in both provinces to meet up with flood victims. Suanprung Psychiatric Hospital in Chiang Mai will prepare support teams for Sukhothai while Srithanya Hospital will support Ayutthaya.

Meanwhile three districts in Phichit were declared disaster zones yesterday after being submerged.

Phichit Governor Suwit Watcharothayangkul said a number of districts at the confluence of the Nan and Yom Rivers were flooded. Three severely affected districts - Sak Lek, Tap Khlo and Wang Sai Phun - were declared flood disaster zones. The governor said the announcement allows residents of 52 villages to receive rapid assistance from state agencies. Suwit said low-lying areas in the provincial seat are now under a metre of water, fed by forest run-off, affecting 30 homes and damaging thousands of rai of farmland.

-- The Nation 2012-09-13

I hope Yingluk finds the time to visit each & every family affected again this year by flooding, caused only by natural rainfall.

Maybe she can apologise for her little "white" lie regarding her statement "there won't be any floods this year" & explain why residents now find themselves yet again waist deep in water or sitting in a boat being evacuated to an emergency centre.

While she is there maybe she can hand out some hard cash, food & water to help the locals, instead of promising the impossible from her "out of their depth" team of water advisers.

Time to cut Thailand out of the solution and bring in some foreign experts who can do the job.. without grafts !!

Are all these places in the CP river basin? As just yesterday it was said 8 provinces were warned to expect flooding.

How can there be any solution to ANY problem in this country if the first problem to solve is how much can we skim out of this project. Foreign experts cannot help because they will have to "tip" someone before they can accomplish anything. One step forward, three steps back.

Hey. This is the guy who flashed past me the other day in his Merc. I was doing 120 k's so God only knows what speed he had attained.

New Cabinet members perhaps?

Wow those poor Thais in the receiving line for their kits don't seem too happy with what they are getting. I would love to see what is in the emergency kit.

Wow those poor Thais in the receiving line for their kits don't seem too happy with what they are getting. I would love to see what is in the emergency kit.

Probably a piece of paper with "IOU" written on it.

My brother in law lost his new house, in the floods last year, all new furniture TV's fridges et al and was told he would get 25,000 Baht in compensation. He received only 5,000 and has nothing but excuses since from the Govt. I wonder if he is due for an emergency pack?

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Time to cut Thailand out of the solution and bring in some foreign experts who can do the job.. without grafts !!

That seems to be the problem for so many substantial changes. The system - idependent of the dominating party - is corrupt and nationalistic.

But the so called Western democracies aren't that different (oil, weaponry, banking ....). Their style is only more subtle and is full of white lies, too. But after a flood catastrophe - like in 2011 - the Western governments would do their job seriously, at least for fear losing the coming election. But that doesn't match the usual Thai habit.