Floods Continue Posing Hardships to Thai People

BURI RAM , Sept 29 (TNA) People in the North and Northeastern of Thailand continue facing hardships as severe flooding situation has now widened in both the regions, officials said on Sunday. Roads leading to villages in the northeastern district of Satuk in Buri Ram province are now cut to outside world after swollen Chee River has inundated houses, roads and rice fields. Trucks are being used to transport villagers while provincial authorities have already declared 12 districts disaster zone. Officials said more than 40,000 families have already suffered from the ongoing flood and over 8,000 rai (3,200 acres) of rice fields is under floodwater. Meanwhile, flooding situation in the northern province of Phitsanulok remains worrisome following heavy downpours late Saturday. Water runoff from a mountain has inundated villages, schools and farmland. Soldiers from the Third Army Region were dispatched to help put sandbags along the river banks to prevent water overflowing the banks destroying houses. The Meteorological Department has issued a warning that heavy downpours are expected in the northeast this week as tropical storm ‘Wutip’ moves toward the upper part of the South China Sea and is expected to enter Vietnam on Tuesday. Moreover, the monsoon trough which is projected to pass central and eastern provinces during the period would cause more rainfalls in 10 provinces in both the regions, it said. Deputy Commerce Minister Yanyong Phuangrach said Prime Minister and Defence Minister Yingluck Shinawatra had ordered every ministry to provide assistance to flood victims. Mr. Yanyong said ministry officials are also surveying prices of necessary commodities in markets to prevent traders from raising prices. The Commerce Ministry is also planning to sell goods at reduced prices to people in flood hit areas, he added. (TNA)