THURSDAY, March 28, 2024
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Officials prepare to cope with possible flash floods, landslides 

Officials prepare to cope with possible flash floods, landslides 

With more heavy rain expected in 28 northern and northeastern provinces Tuesday and Wednesday, the authorities have taken steps to provide emergency help to people in case of flash flooding and landslides, a senior government official said on Tuesday.

Deputy Interior Minister Niphon Bunyamanee said the prime minister has instructed government officials to make preparations to provide timely assistance to residents. 
Niphon said he has in turn instructed the chief of the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department to ensure that officials and heavy machinery are on standby to help those affected by flash floods.
Niphon said the officials will keep a special watch on northeastern and northern provinces, especially Phrae and Mae Hong Son.
In the meantime, Niphon said the officials will implement measures to prevent shortage of water in the next dry season. He said recent heavy rains have eased the drought situations in several areas.
The deputy interior minister added that the prime minister has approved in principle funds for developing monkey-cheek water retention areas, for dredging canals and for expanding and deepening water resources to retain water for use in the next dry season.
The prime minister wants bidding for all water resources development projects to be carried out within next month, Niphon added.
Chayapol Thitisak, director general of the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department, said flash flooding and landslides could occur in 15 northern provinces and 13 northeastern provinces Tuesday and Wednesday.
He said the Meteorological Department has warned that a monsoon through over the North and upper Northeast coupled with influence of southwest monsoon over the Andaman and the upper Gulf of Thailand would trigger torrential rains in the provinces.
The 15 northern provinces likely to be hit are Mae Hong Son, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Lamphun, Lampang, Phayao, Prae, Nan, Tak, Sukhothai, Kamphaeng Phet, Phichit, Uttaradit, Phitsanulok and Phetchabun.
The 13 northeastern provinces that could be hit are Loei, Nong Bua Lamphu, Udon Thani, Nong Khai, Bueng Kan, Sakon Nakhon, Nakhon Phanom, Kalasin, Mukdahan, Roi Et, Yasothon, Amnart Charoen, and Ubon Ratchathani.
He added Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Nn, and Uttaradit would be prone to landslides while residents of the northeastern province of Ubon Ratchathani and the eastern provinces of Rayong, Chanthaburi and Trat should also brace themselves for possible landslides.

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