Thailand provides aids to flood victims in Laos

BANGKOK, July 25 (TNA) – Thai Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha initially gave five million baht to the Lao embassy to assist flood victims after a dam collapsed in Attapeu province in the Southeast of Laos. Foreign Affairs Ministry spokeswoman Bussadee Santipitak said that Gen Prayut gave an initial financial aids of five million baht to Lao ambassador to Thailand Seng Soukhathivong. Deputy Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs Damrong Kraikruan will meet with representative of state agencies to discuss further assistance to Laos. Necessities such as make-shift tents and drinking water will be dispatched first. Thai ambassador to Laos, Kiattikhun Chartprasert would today give 500,000 baht of assistance money from Thai embassy, private companies and Thai people in Laos to the Lao Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare. Thai Consulate-General office in Savannakhet said about the flood situation there that the flood level is as high as rooftop and it is chest-deep in some areas. The damage cannot be assessed at the moment. Initially, about 6,000 people in eight villages near the dam have been affected and most of the flood victims are poor farmers. The death toll is at least 17. No foreigners have been affected in the incident. Thai Consulate-General office gave relief supplies, worth about 100,000 baht to help the flood victims. Attapeu province set up only one coordination center at the provincial office to receive donations around the clock. (TNA)