Government agencies map out preventive plans

BANGKOK, July 28 (TNA) -- Less than a week after an earth-filled dam in Laos accidentally burst and killed many people, Thai government agencies have mapped out emergency plans to effectively response if there is a similar disaster occur in the country and asked concerned authorities to undertake drills so that assistance could be provided timely. Chayapol Thitisak, director-general of Ministry of Interior’s Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department, said academics have advised that there should be an agency as a centre unit to oversee major dams and reservoirs nationwide to prevent the disaster in Laos from occurring in Thailand. Presently, Thailand has a law issued in 2007 in dealing with natural disaster while another law enacted in 2015 deals on managing the disaster, allowing authorities in every province to issue plans to protect or response when natural disasters occured. Mr Chayapol said drills on evacuating people in case of disaster break out are conducted regularly. By early Saturday, media reported that at least 27 people were killed and more than 100 were still missing after the earthern dam in Laos’ southeastern province of Attapeu burst late Monday, releasing about 5 billion cubic metres of water. Government agencies and private sector in Thailand have rushed daily necessities and assistance to the neighbouring landlocked country to assist the flood victims. (TNA)