PM visits flood-hit South

SURAT THANI, Jan 26 (TNA) – Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-ocha is visiting flood-stricken province of Surat Thani to meet local people and to expedite rehabilitation and relief efforts for flood victims. Gen Prayut on Thursday morning made a helicopter survey to view the flood damage in three hard-hit districts – Phunphin, Ban Na Doem, and Khian Sa. After the helicopter tour, the prime minister met local people at the Surat Thani electric plant and gave compensation money to those, whose houses were destroyed. He handed over relief supplies to 2,000 flood victims in Phun Phin district before he continued his trip in a boat to meet flood victims at a village, in which over 300 houses remain under water to boost their morale. Gen Prayut is scheduled to hold a meeting with agencies concerned this afternoon at the national disaster operation center in Surat Thani on flood rehabilitation. During the meeting, the prime minister will also direct policies on tackling flood problems in the long term while the local authorities plan to seek over one billion baht to speed up rehabilitation work and to build two water retention areas for effective water management in the future. Surat Thani is one of 12 southern provinces, affected by severe flooding. More than 230,000 people in 18 districts have been affected and 15 people were killed. Flood has receded in most areas but more than 1,000 households in Phun Phin and Ban Na Doem districts are still submerged. (TNA)