PM orders well-prepared measures to cope with Gaemi storm

BANGKOK, October 4 (TNA) - Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has ordered all agencies concerned to well prepare measures to cope with the approaching Gaemi storm, covering assistance and rehabilitation plans for affected people and areas. The prime minister has instructed the concerned agencies that all people and areas affected by the approaching Gaemi storm are to be equally assisted. In response to the premier's order, the government-appointed Water and Flood Resources Management Committee (WFRMC) has put its prepared measures in good place to handle the situation, covering immediate assistance and rehabilitation plans. Thai Science and Technology Minister Plodprasop Suraswasdi, in his capacity as the WFRMC chief, told journalists Thursday morning that the Tropical Storm Gaemi was forecast to hit Thailand by this evening, with the northeastern Ubon Ratchathani province to be first affected. Plodprasop assessed that there should be heavy downpours in Ubon Ratchathani and adjacent Chaiyaphum provinces, as well as the lower northern Nakhon Sawan province subsequently, before widespread and scattered rainfalls in all Thai regions by Friday. According to the WFRMC chief, Tropical Storm Gaemi should then weaken by October 6 but there should still be downpours in eastern Thai provinces, namely Chonburi, Rayong, Chantaburi and Trat, as well as the eastern side of Bangkok. The WFRMC chair warned that central provinces hardest-hit by Thailand's massive flooding late last year, namely Ayutthaya, Nonthaburi and Pathum Thani, will be, again, affected by the Gaemi storm when it passes through the central Thai region. As all provinces are bracing for the Tropical Storm Gaemi, the Ministry of Public Health has also, meanwhile, prepared for flood prevention measures at hospitals and mobile medical units nationwide, particularly in 30 flood-prone provinces, with special care given to hospitals and people in six provinces which have also been flooded, including Prachinburi, Chacheongsao, Nakhon Ratchasima, Chantaburi, Trat and Sa Keao, as instructed by Public Health Minister Wittaya Buranasiri at a video conference with provincial public health chiefs and hospitals' directors Thursday morning. (TNA)