Sukhothai expedites water drainage to relieve flood

SUKHOTHAI, May 22 (TNA) - Sukhothai governor worked with the local irrigation office to speed up draining floodwaters from hard-hit district. The authorities said the flood in the Khiri Mat district's commercial area was the heaviest in 15 years. Sukhothai governor Piti Kaewsalabsee said the local irrigation office has expedited water drainage through a canal to the Yom River. It takes long time to divert floodwater into the Yom River as Khiri Mat district is not connected to the Yom River. The flooding has extended to 10 sub-districts, submerged under 30-50 centimeters of water for many days due to accumulated rainfall but government offices and police stations remain opened. The hardest-hit area is Ban Huay Nam Sai in Samphuang sub-district, where local residents have been forced to use flat-bottomed boats for travelling. Floodwater has flowed to lower part of the district, where local pottery shops are located. Some are forced to close as handicraft workers cannot make pottery. According to an initial survey by the disaster prevention and mitigation office, farmland, fisheries and livestock have been also affected. Schools in flood areas are temporarily closed until the situation returns to normal. (TNA)