Thai PM orders soldiers to help flood victims

BANGKOK, October 17 (TNA) - Thai Prime Minister and Defence Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has ordered the military to speed up water drainage and solve pollution from stagnant floodwater in affected areas, while Storm Nari has caused heavy downpours for two days. Army Spokesman Colonel Thanathip Sawangsaeng told reporters on Thursday that Premier Yingluck made the order when inspecting floods in Prachin Buri and Chachoengsao Provinces in the Thai East on October 15 and also instructed quick solutions to flooded areas. Besides, the spokesman said, the prime minister ordered the Royal Thai Navy to deploy 85 more water propellers to speed up water drainage in affected eastern areas, including Chachoengsao, Chon Buri, the Amata Nakorn Industrial Estate and Lat Krabang District in Bangkok, and to install two propellers in the Thawi Watthana Canal in the capital's western side to accelerate drainage into the Tha Chin River, as floodwater may flow to the western side of the Chao Phraya River. According to the spokesman, the Royal Thai Army will, thus, use effective microorganisms to treat polluted stagnant floodwater and deploy its medical teams to take care of flood victims, while fielding over 13,000 soldiers to help flood-affected people. A latest survey found, meanwhile, that water from upstream areas does not pose any problem in the Chao Phraya River and flooding in some areas has resulted from heavy downpours which take times for drainage. In Bangkok, flooding happens in some districts, while Storm Nari is expected to cause rain in the capital almost all day long for the second consecutive days. Water in main canals in Bangkok, including the Prem Prachakorn Canal, has reached its top levels with, probably, overflows anticipated. (TNA)