PHITSANULOK, Sept 29 – Eight districts of this northern province have been declared disaster zones due to severe floods.
The eight districts are Nakhon Thai, Chat Trakan, Wang Thong, Noen Maprang, Bang Krathum, Bang Rakam, Wat Bot, and the provincial seat. This status will help local authorities receive emergency funds to assist and alleviate flood victims.
Local Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Officer Boonying Kumsuphan said over 10,000 rai of rice fields, over 2,100 rai of other agricultural lands, local roads, wooden bridges and dykes have been damaged by floodwaters. In some districts, the water level is as high as 50 cm to one metre deep.
Meanwhile, floodwater in the eastern province of Prachin Buri has remained the same level, following this morning’s visit by helicopter of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and her entourage.
A wide area of agricultural farming has been affected, while the province’s economic zone is slightly impacted. Local authorities were assigned to speed up draining water to the Bang Pakong River to help alleviate public burden.
Accompanying the premier on the one-day trip was former Prime Minister/Chart Thai Pattana Party adviser Banharn Silpa-archa. The flood situation in Prachin Buri province and nearby areas is expected to improve within seven days, given that related parties are collaborating to solve the issue, Mr Banharn said.
Deputy Prime Minister Plodprasop Suraswadi, as chief of National Water and Flood Management Policy Office, accompanying another entourage of the premier this morning, said over 200 million cubic metres of water have been drained out of Prachin Buri, while another 800 million cubic metres remain.
Should the 600 million cubic metres of water be drained within a fortnight, the water situation there will improve.
In the central province of Ayutthaya, local authorities on Sunday provided vehicles which can produce 10,000 litres of drinking water/day to flood victims, as local pipeline systems in some communities cannot produce their own potable water supply due to high levels of floodwaters.
