PM orders swift flood drainage into the sea

BANGKOK, September 27 (TNA) - Prime Minister and Defence Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has ordered concerned agencies to speed up flood drainage into the sea and the Ministry of Interior's Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation to hurriedly help flood victims, though the flooding situation in Thailand has been generally relieving. Chatchai Phromlert, Director-General of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, told reporters on Friday that flooding has remained in 30 Thai provinces and has alleviated in five provinces. Chatchai stressed that the prime minister has instructed concerned agencies to maximize flood drainage into the sea through irrigation canals and main rivers, including the Chao Phraya River, and to apply equipment to support the task and to minimize flood drainage impacts. Chatchai acknowledged that his department is, thus, deploying motored flat boats, rescue gear and vehicles producing drinking water to 18 branches nationwide to help flood victims. According to the senior official, the acceleration of flood drainage is aimed to prepare for more rainfalls forecasted from late this month to early next month. (TNA)