PM visits flood-hit Northeast

BANGKOK, Aug 2 (TNA) - Prime Minister Gen Prayuth Chan-o-cha is visiting flood victims in the hard-hit provinces of Sakon Nakhon and Nakhon Phanom and follow up the water situation and aid to local residents. The prime minister is accompanied by Interior Minister Anupong Paochinda, Agriculture Minister Chatchai Sarikulya and Army Chief General Chalermchai Sitthisart. Upon arrival, the prime minister was briefed by the provincial governor, Witthaya Chanchalong and the director-general of the Royal Irrigation Department on the current flood and water situation at the Krit Sivara army camp. He later visited the temporary shelter and took a boat to visit flood victims and inspected the Huay Sai Kamin reservoir, where the repair work is under way after the reservoir’s edge was damaged by excessive overflow of water over its capacity. In the afternoon, he will board a helicopter to monitor the water situation in adjacent province of Nakhon Phanom and to see water drainages at the Kam River’s sluice gates. He is scheduled to return to Bangkok at 4.30 pm. Sakon Nakhon’s 18 districts have been affected by Sonca storm. The total 58,804 houses have been under water. Three deaths were reported and one person is missing. The 583,908 rai (about 233,563 acres) of farmland have been flooded. Four temporary shelters were set up for flood victims. (TNA)