Outlook dull as more heavy rain forecast
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The Thai Meteorological Department warned yesterday that heavy rain would continue in lower Central, eastern and southern provinces, with high winds and waves predicted in the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand - until October 8 at the least.
Flooding has continued to ravage over 20 provinces, especially those in the Northeast.
Residents in hillside and riverside areas in Kanachanaburi were also warned about the risk of forest floods and landslides, while in Rayong’s Klaeng district, more than 100 homes were reported to be under one metre of water, which resulted in an evacuation of children and the elderly.
Disease in Chaiyaphum
In Chaiyaphum, heavy rain also left nine districts flooded with some residential areas under 1-2 metres of water. Many locals were reported to be suffering from skin complaints due to a chemical leak from an Agriculture Office warehouse in Muang district.
In Buri Ram’s Ban Kruat district, forest floods damaged sections of road and swept two cars away. However, no injury was reported.
Aranyaprathet in Sa Kaew was also reported to be flooded.
A Suan Dusit Poll found 65 per cent of people feared this year’s floods could become as bad as in 2011, while 35 per cent said they believed the government was better prepared now. However, 57 per cent said the government’s popularity had been affected by the current floods, while 34 per cent disagreed and said flooding was an inevitable annual event.
Another 39 per cent backed the government’s Bt350-billion water-management scheme as a long-term solution, while 36.5 per cent disagreed, saying the scheme was too costly, needed more study, and could lead to an increase in corruption.
