BMA prepared for approaching storm

BANGKOK, October 1 (TNA) - The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has prepared its water management plans for coping with an approaching storm, the first one forecast by the Meteorological Department to directly pass through Thailand during October 6-7 with heavy downpours subsequently nationwide. Bangkok Governor M.R. Sukhumbhand Paribatra acknowledged the preparation on Monday, insisting on the BMA's duty to be ready to handle excess rainwater which could be as much as some 90 millimetres in the coming weekend. According to the Bangkok governor, the BMA handled rainwater as much as about 850 millimetres last month, more than half of Thailand's average yearly rainfalls. The Bangkok governor noted, however, if rainwater is as much as about 60 millimetres after each rainfall in any area in the capital, BMA staff should take 1-3 hours to drain out the rainwater, noting that there are some 206 flood-prone areas in the city. Meanwhile, Public Health Minister Wittaya Buranasiri told reporters that his ministry has sent out 172 mobile medical units to serve people in all flood-hit areas over the past 22 days, during which nearly 33,480 patients have then been found, most of whom suffered from headaches, athlete's foot and cold. The public health minister affirmed that his ministry's mobile medical units have not detected any epidemic in all the flood-stricken areas, but some 309,500 medical aid kits have been handed out to the flood victims. (TNA)