Thai government speeds up solving inundations

BANGKOK, September 25 (TNA) - The Thai government is speedily solving the flooding problem in several areas, including those being critically-flooded in the eastern Prachinburi province and providing immediate assistance to flood victims. Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Yongyuth Wichaidit and Science and Technology Plodprasop Surasawasdi flew by a helicopter to Srimahapote district, a most critically-flooded area, in Prachinburi Tuesday morning to inspect the updated situation and assistance handed out to affected people. Plodprasop, in his capacity as the chief of the government-appointed Strategic Committee for Water Resource Management (SCWRM), then told journalists that continual downpours over past few days have prompted local agencies concerned to have remained on alert to deal with floods in two river basins, including the Prachinburi and the Bang Pa Kong River Basins where Meuang, Srimahapote and Baan Sang districts are located. The SCWRM chief assessed if there were no more rainfalls over the next couple of days, the flooding situation in Prachinburin should improve. In Phichit province in the Lower Thai North, the flooding situation has also remained critical, as overflows from the main Yom River have caused over 40 houses in Wang Pla Too Village in Sam Ngam district to be submerged by over one-metre-deep floodwater, prompting local people to have evacuated to temporary roadside shelters near adjacent Pitsanulok province with rotating self-patrols against thieves by the affected villagers. (TNA)