No Thai casualties reported in quake-ravaged Nepal

BANGKOK, April 27 (TNA) - The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says there has been no official report on any Thai casualties in quake-ravaged Nepal, while Thai Airways International (THAI), the national flag carrier, has announced its readiness to increase flights to pick up Thais and foreigners from Nepal. Thai Foreign Ministry Spokesman Sek Wannamethee, who is also Director-General of the ministry's Department of Information, quoted the Thai Embassy to Nepal as reporting on Monday that no Thai people were injured or killed in the 7.9-magnitude earthquake in Nepal on April 25. The spokesman stated that six Thai medical students from Bangkok-based Srinakarinwirot University were reportedly safe and already arrived in Nepal's Pokhara Town, but his ministry was checking the whereabouts of Thai monks in the quake-hit South Asian nation. Regarding the reported death of a female Thai-American doctor at an Everest base camp, the spokesman revealed that she also held American citizenship and reports about her might come from the US Embassy in Kathmandu, Nepal's capital, as her relatives in Thailand had not contacted his ministry. According to the spokesman, about 100 Thai people lived in Nepal and 60 of them were in Kathmandu, but only Thai tourists and others who visited Nepal for a conference wanted to return to Thailand, while Kathmandu International Airport has remained operational and THAI is ready to increase flights to carry people from Kathmandu. In the meantime, about 40 Thai nationals were set to arrive in Thailand on April 27, while the first group of Thai relief personnel is scheduled to leave for Nepal on April 28, including health and disaster relief officials. Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan confirmed that the Royal Thai Armed Forces are fully prepared to deploy doctors, rescuers and aircraft to help Nepal, while Thai police will send forensic officers to assist in identity verifications. General Prawit noted that the Thai government has already donated 200,000 US dollars or about 6 million baht to help Nepal and will host a TV program on April 28 to raise more public donations to assist the quake-ravaged nation. Quake victims in Nepal reportedly need blankets, tents, medications, first aid kits, food and drinking water. The Thai Ministry of Public Health, one of concerned agencies working together to assist quake-stricken Nepal, announced that it will dispatch two disaster relief teams to Nepal this week. The first eight-member group will leave for Nepal on April 28 to evaluate the situation and medical needs, while the second 47-member group of medical staff will fly to Nepal on April 29 to provide medical services to quake victims. (TNA)