PM visits flooded provinces, shrugs off criticism at visit coming too late
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Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Thursday travelled by helicopter to inspect flooding in Ayutthaya, Sukothai, Phitsanulok and Nakhon Sawan.
Describing Sukhothai as the most critically affected province, the premier said emergency workers have been sent to provide help and alleviate the situation. She will inspect the flooded areas in person to monitor counter-flood operations and give moral support to the people.
Other areas will have to be fully prepared for floods as waters will move down from Phrae province through Sukhothai to the central plains, she said.
Yingluck asked the public to refrain from describing the government’s flood prevention as “controllable or uncontrollable” as “this is a natural disaster, which is hard to predict.”
She said officials have been instructed to assess the water situation in flood-prone areas and regularly forward information to the Water and Natural Disaster Management Committee.
Residents living near canals should keep an eye on the water level and alert the authorities if necessary, the prime minister said, calling on people to immediately evacuate if warned by the authorities.
On flood prevention for eastern and western Bangkok, Yingluck said drainage has been effective on the eastern and western parts and the situation is under control.
Torrential rains may have inundated some areas but the drainage system has greatly improved.
On the opposition’s criticism that her inspection of flood-hit areas has been too slow, the premier said she had no problem with the criticism and that her field trip could not immediately solve the problems.
She said it was sometimes better for her to work in Bangkok and assign Cabinet members to the field or coordinate with the army to assist people.
