46 factories in Ayutthaya inundated
Play
Damages estimated at more than Bt100 billion
A flood levee of an industrial zone in Ayutthaya collapsed late Tuesday night, causing the water to pour in and inundate 46 factories, Public Health Minister Witthaya Buranasiri said Wednesday.
Witthaya, who is in charge of alleviating the suffering of flood victims in Ayutthaya, said the floodwater rushed into the Saharat Nakhon industrial zone so fast that the factories could not relocate their machines and goods in time.
The factories are of medium and large size and mostly make electronic parts. Witthaya said preliminarily estimates of damages to the 46 factories totalled at least Bt100 billion.
The industrial zone is located in Tambon Bang Phrakhru in Nakhon Luang district.
Witthaya said the floodwaters also overcame levees in other areas, including those in Ayothaya district and Mueang district, to inundate several areas.
The water in certain areas was now as high as two to three metres, Witthaya said.
The inundated areas include King Rama 9 Park, Rice Research Centre, and the Economic Zone on Rojana Road in Tambon Phailing.
All in all, 16 districts in the provinces have been hit by flooding, 14 of them severely.
The flood situation in provinces downstream from Tak worsened after two emergency sluice gates of the Bhumibhol Dam were opened at midnight Tuesday, releasing a massive amount of water downstream.
Officials said the water, which gushed out of the two gates, inundated Tak’s downtown at 9am and reached downstream provinces in the afternoon.
Officials said the water from Tak would reach Nakhon Sawan Thursday night.
In a related development, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Plodprasop Suraswadee Wednesday urged owners of boats to help push flood waters out to sea.
He said the boat owners could claim for petrol subsidies from the government for the operation.
