BANGKOK, 28 August 2014 – Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha has expressed concerns over the risk of flooding in the country during this period and instructed military units to be ready to lend a hand to those affected.
According to Deputy Army Spokesperson Col Winthai Suwaree, Gen Prayuth indicated that heavy rains are expected to continue dampening many areas nationwide and could inflict damages on people’s homes and agricultural land. He thus assigned all military units to take care of residents in flood-prone locales and make sure relief efforts are fully and continuously conducted should a flood disaster occur.
A special command center has been set up to closely coordinate with administrative officials and disaster prevention and mitigation staff in each province. Troops, along with equipment and vehicles, are being readied for related procedures, such as the rescue and evacuation of flood victims, transport of their belongings and inspection of damages.
As for the Bangkok Metropolis, where flooding often adds to the traffic problems, Gen Prayuth urged relevant authorities to maximize the capacity of the drainage system in a bid to avert an impact on people’s commute, especially during rush hours.
