Relief supplies sent to flood victims in Nakhon Phanom

NAKHON PHANOM, Aug 7 (TNA) - Soldiers have carried relief supplies on a helicopter to distribute to flood victims in Na Kae district in the northeastern province of Nakhon Phanom. Although flood has receded, roads are still impassable. Soldiers have to reach flood-hit villages by a helicopter to hand out necessities to more than 300 households. In the Kam River basin, flood has receded following one week under water while local irrigation officials can drain flood water fast at about 30-35 million cubic metres a day into the Mekong River with water pumps and equipment with water jet propulsion system. It is expected that the situation will return to normal in about 4-5 days if there is no more rain. However, the authorities need to monitor floods in another two river basins in Nawa and Phon Sawan districts. In Nawa district, almost 200 houses are under one metre of water. The Royal Thai Navy dispatched 35 boats, equipped with water jet propulsion system to the Songkram River to speed the water flow into the Mekong River. The water drain capacity is about 3.5 million cubic metres daily. Today, 12 water pushing boats will be deployed to the Oon River. Nakhon Phanom declared 10 districts out of all 12 districts disaster zones, affected by flood. So far, about 20,612 houses, 80,000 acres of farmland and 60 roads have been inundated. (TNA)