59 killed as nine provinces hit by floods
Floods have now claimed 59 lives and affected more than 360,000 people in nine provinces, the Interior Ministry said yesterday.
"I really don't know what to do. I am so worried about my mom; the water level just keeps rising," said Lamai Kaewtasaen, 51, from her inundated hometown in Angthong's tambon Phong Pheng.
Her 92yearold mother was blind and bedridden, she said.
Lamai hoped rescue workers would help her move her mother to a safe place soon.
"I can't do it alone," she said.
Tambon Phong Pheng Administrative Organisation chairwoman Kulfarlee Theprak said many houses had been flooded and her agency was trying to deliver help as soon as possible to those affected.
According to Interior Ministry Deputy Permanent Secretary Chonchuen Boonyanisas, flooding has affected up to 364,469 people in Sukhothai, Phichit, Phitsanulok, Nakhon Sawan, Ayutthaya, Angthong, Chai Nat, Ubon Ratchathani and Sing Buri provinces.
More than 3.37 million rai of farmland have been damaged and more than two million head of livestock affected. At least 25 roads have been rendered impassable.
Religious Affairs Department DirectorGeneral Sod Daengiad called on people to donate money or relief items to flood victims and monks via KrungThai bank account No 0591290065.
"Due to the inundation, monks and novice monks cannot go out to collect alms," he explained.
Heavy rain was forecast again for today, Tuesday and Wednesday in many areas, with northeastern and eastern provinces at risk of flash floods.
In Phitsanulok, flooding kept at least 16 schools in Mueang Phitsanulok and Bang Rakam districts closed yesterday
Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva, who headed the previous administration, yesterday led a team in reaching out to flood victims in Sukhothai, where they distributed relief items.
Abhisit urged the government to provide financial assistance to flood victims quickly.
Deputy Agriculture Minister Pornsak Charoenprasert said yesterday that the Cabinet had approved a plan to help farmers who lost crops to the flood.
"The farmers will be compensated at an amount equivalent to 55 per cent of their crops' actual cost," he said.
The budget for the plan would exceed Bt8 billion, he said.
