Flood still hit six provinces in southern region

BANGKOK, Dec 11 (TNA) -- Director-General of the Department for Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Chayapol Thitisak reported today that flooding in six southern provinces remains critical. The Department is working with other involved departments to coordinate relief efforts and had themselves mobilised pumping units into critical locations. Mr Chayapol reveals that as a result of the north-eastern tropical storm which hit the country from November 25 to December 11 numerous flash floods had hit 11 provinces in the south. These included Pattani,Yala, Songkhla, Pattalung, Trang, Satun, Chumpon, Narathiwat, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Surat Thani and Krabi provinces. In all, 502,158 families were affected and 29 people killed. The latest reports indicate that conditions in five provinces - Krabi, Satun, Yala, Narathiwat and Chumpon have improved but six other provinces made up of Pattani, Songkhla, Pattalung, Trang, Nakhon Si Thamarat and Surat Thani are still badly affected. Mr Chayapol also told the media that the department was coordinating with provincial authorities, local army units, southern security forces and related departments to organise relief efforts. Aid packages, drinking water and other vital consumables have been handed out to flood victims and special relief centres has also been setup to accommodate evacuees. Furthermore, the department has also mobilised their own specialised equipment such as water purification trucks, mobile toilets, flat-bottomed boats and mobile pumping units to help in the relief effort. Another vital effort that is being organised by the department is coordinating with local officials with regards to the placement of mobile pumping and water propellers to speed up water drainage from affected areas. (TNA)