Flooding still causing misery
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Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Wednesday visited flood-affected areas in Chai Nat, Angthong and Ayutthaya to distribute flood relief supplies and listen to reports on the flood situation.
Yingluck and her team, including Deputy PM Yongyuth Wichaidith, returned to Bangkok in the evening.
Meanwhile, Army chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha said he ordered all army units to be ready to help flood victims around the clock.
The military will be the first agency to respond to local residents in flood-stricken areas. Gen Prayuth said he had received reports that 10 provinces were hard hit and that flooding is tending to increase due to northern run-off flowing to the lower central basin.
Military deployments can be made to fill in areas with insufficient local manpower. Local residents were also asked to volunteer to help soldiers making sandbags.
Regarding the flood situation, in the River Yom Basin in Phichit's Samngam district, more than 1,000 houses are under water. Locals are stressed as all roads have been cut off.
In the eastern province of Prachin Buri, the riverside market in the municipality is flooded. Local traders are selling their goods standing in the floodwater.
Roads are 50 centimetres under water and the business area is quiet.
In Ang Thong's Chaiyo district, heavy rain and strong winds caused a large tree to fall on a house but no one was injured.
In Nakhon Sawan provincial seat, the Chao Phraya River overflowed its banks and flooded almost 400 homes by as much as two metres. Local residents were forced to move to tents on higher ground near the railway tracks.
Villagers took turns to guard against looting and venomous animals washing up with the floodwaters.
The Cabinet also approved the budget of more than 886 million baht for 170,000 households affected by floods. Each household will receive 5,000 baht. Moreover, a 15 million baht budget will be given to mudslide victims.
