State of disaster declared in parts of Chumphon

Relief supplies and treatments have been given to residents in 127 villages in Thung Tako, Sawee, Tha Sae and La Mae districts in this southern province. Officials have also been put on alert for possible evacuations from more flooding.

 

In Pathum Thani, 200 angry residents from many estates upset at non-payment or insufficient compensation for flooding blocked a section of Phaholyothin-Lam Luk Ka Road, causing traffic congestion that stretched for kilometres.

 

Payments are not due till next Wednesday, but some residents had learnt they would get amounts lower than what they wanted and thus sought to protest. The blockade continued till press time although one lane was opened after talks between the protesters and a local administrative body.

 

In Surat Thani in the South, six of the 19 districts were under water , with more than 27,000 people in 8,500 households affected, said provincial governor Cherdsak Choosri. In Krabi, 20 families isolated by flooding in Muang district were rescued via a bridge made of rope in a dramatic effort by rescue workers.

 

A total of 500,000 first-aid kits and 400 doses of serum to deal with seven types of snake venom had been prepared, the Public Health Ministry said. It said there had been 400 cases of people suffering from diseases since the flooding began late last week.

 

Another 9,000 kits have been sent to three flood-hit provinces in the south – Phang Nga, Ranong and Krabi. Public announcements and leaflets warning people about waterborne diseases and diarrhoea have been provided in provinces not yet flooded.

 

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra is due to visit Nonthaburi today to check on compensation payments to residents affected by last year’s mega-flood. She may also fly to Chumphon to see flooded areas, after the Nonthaburi trip, although she has already assigned Natural Resources and Environment Ministry Preecha Rengsomboonsuk to visit that province.

THE NATION