BANGKOK, Oct 14 – Thai army chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha has expressed concern over the flood situation in the eastern province of Chachoengsao and has accordingly deployed army personnel in the area to provide prompt help to affected residents.
Assistant army chief Gen Paiboon Kumchaya said 150 companies of soldiers — 30,000 personnel — are now deployed across the country on flood relief missions. The situation in the Northeast has now eased but flooding in the North and lower Central regions, supervised by the 3rd Army Region, is still worrisome.
Gen Paiboon said the army chief is concerned for Chachoengsao, the most critical area. He has instructed military personnel to monitor the situation and stand ready to help as flooding from the Prachin Buri provincial seat and Ban Sang district will be released into the sea through three Chachoengsao districts — Bang Khla, Bang Nam Priao and Ban Pho.
The army chief said flooding in the East is believed to be more severe than in previous years, according to Gen Paiboon.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said she will inspect flood situation in Chachoengsao’s Bang Khla district and Prachin Buri’s Ban Sang district tomorrow after chairing the weekly Cabinet meeting. She will observe provincial flood-relief operations, rehabilitation plans, as well as give moral support to the flood victims.
The premier said she has already assigned the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation and Prachin Buri province to survey damages for rehabilitation response as floods in the province began to recede. It is expected that the survey will be complete within one month, but survey can start immediately for urgent compensation in some areas.
