ID :
328864
Fri, 05/16/2014 - 08:51
Auther :

Repairs to quake-hit damaged structures in Thai North to take about two months

CHIANG RAI, THAILAND, May 16 (TNA) - Repairs on buildings and land routes damaged by a powerful earthquake which hit the Thai North, especially Chiang Rai Province, on May 5 are expected to take about two months to be completed and cost the state about 100 million baht. Caretaker Transport Minister Chadchart Sittipunt told reporters of the updated information on Friday morning, after arriving in Chiang Rai to inspect damages caused by the 6.3-magnitude quake and to boost morale of locals affected by the strong quake and its over 1,000 aftershocks so far. As cracks have been reported in several places, especially on Highway number 118, Chadchart said that officials of his ministry's Highways Department are closely monitoring damaged buildings, as well as bridges and roads. According to the caretaker minister, the officials have projected that repairs to the damaged structures should take about two months with a total cost of about 100 million baht. To date, two persons died and 23 others were injured from the 6.3-magnitude quake, the most powerful one in the Thai history. Meanwhile, Acting Caretaker Prime Minister Niwattumrong Boonsongpaisarn travelled to Chiang Rai on Thursday evening and he is scheduled to attend a briefing on the natural catastrophe on Friday morning and to then hold a meeting at Mae Fah Luang International Airport in the province before inspecting the damages. Niwattumrong is also scheduled to inspect damages at the Rong Khun Temple, one of top tourist destinations in Chiang Rai, before returning to Bangkok on Friday evening. (TNA)

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