Floods ease in most affected Thai provinces

BANGKOK, October 28 (TNA) - The Thai Ministry of Interior's Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation reports that floods have been relieved in 32 out of a total of 47 affected provinces, but 15 provinces have remained heavily-inundated. According to official figures, more than four million people in the 47 flood-hit provinces have been affected, accounting for 6.29 per cent of Thailand's total population. This year's floods since mid-September have damaged 31,523 houses, 6,078 roads and more than 3.6 million rais (5,753 square kilometers) of farmlands and killed 80 people and more than 4.2 million farm animals. Meanwhile, the department's director-general, Chatchai Phromlert, told reporters on Monday that Thai Prime Minister and Defence Minister Yingluck Shinawatra is particularly concerned over flooding in Phimai District of Nakhon Ratchasima Province, the center of the Thai Northeast, and ordered his department to do all means to speed up water drainage and build floodwalls to protect local communities, business areas and the Phimai Historical Park. Chatchai acknowledged that the prime minister has also ordered the Ministry of Interior to quickly rehabilitate earlier flooded areas and to assist flood victims in accordance with the Ministry of Finance's regulations. Severe flooding remains in Chachoengsao Province in the Thai East, moderate flooding is in Prachin Buri, Nakhon Ratchasima, Ubon Ratchathani and Buri Ram Provinces and slight flooding is in Ayutthaya, Nakhon Nayok, Khon Kaen, Si Sa Ket, Pathum Thani, Nonthaburi, Samut Prakan, Suphan Buri, Nakhon Pathom and Lop Buri Provinces. (TNA)