Thai PM orders agencies to protect tourists

BANGKOK, Oct 7 (TNA) - As tropical storm Gaemi is heading towards Thailand, Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has ordered concerned government agencies to provide protection to tourists, said government spokeswoman Sansanee Nakpong on Sunday. The spokeswoman said Miss Yingluck had ordered Interior Ministry’s Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department n to coordinate with the Ministry of Tourism and Sports on informing authorities in 39 resort provinces to cooperate with tourism business operators in providing protection to tourists as the tropical storm which is expected to weaken into a depression and enter Thailand on Sunday night. Tourists are also urged to closely follow the situation and to be extra cautious while travelling, she added. The Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department’s Director-General, Chatchai Phromlert, meanwhile, has ordered 399 of his officials to be on alert on providing assistance to flood victims round-the-clock. The rescue officials are on standby and have prepared 300 flat-bottomed boats, 1,766 boats and 100 water pumps for provinces which are affected by Gaemi. There are signs that tropical storm Gaemi may change its directions, officials said. Six eastern provinces including Prachin Buri, Sa Kaeo, Chanthaburi, Trat, Rayong and Chon Buri could have heavy rainfall. But if the storm changes the direction and lands on the eastern side of the Gulf of Thailand, Phetchaburi, Ratchaburi and Prachuap Khiri Khan provinces could be affected. (TNA)