Thailand: PM Assures Public That Government Will Devote Full Effort To Tackling Flood Problem

BANGKOK (NNN-TNA) -- Prime Minsiter Yingluck Shinawatra on Saturday reassured the public that the government would do its utmost to tackle the flood problem and it was prepared to take care of flood victims.

Ms Yingluck addressed the nation on her weekly programme "Yingluck Government Meets the Public" via National Broadcasting Television (NBT), Channel 11 and Radio Thailand stating that 56 provinces were affected by the flood and among them, 10 provinces were badly hit: Nakhon Sawan, Ayutthaya, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Lop Buri, Ang Thong, Sing Buri, Chai Nat, Uthai Thani, and Chachoengsao.

The most critical situations were Nakhon Sawan, Ayutthaya and Pathum Thani.

She said the government was trying to drain floodwater into the sea as quickly as possible while important areas and strategic locations would be protected, including business areas, industrial estates, airports, flood victim shelters, major cities in provinces and inner Bangkok.

The government's Flood Relief Operations Centre has assigned the armed forces, police and relevant agencies to cooperate in addressing the flood problem.

"The government has drained floodwater into the sea with three channels, in the Chao Phraya River, fleet of ships will push water to the sea; on the eastern side of Bangkok, flood water would be diverted from Nakhon Nayok and Bang Pakong Rivers, also dredged seven main canals in which three canals have been completed and could facilitate the water flow. On the western side of Bangkok, the water would be drained into Tha Chin River but because of the winding of river, shortcut would be dug to speed up the drainage," she said.

As for Bangkok protection, she said, the government has built three rows of flood prevention dykes with reinforcements and more height having been added. One additional row between Klong Rapeepat and Pratunam Pra-in for 24 kilometers was expected to be completed soon.

At Ban Phrao water sluice gate, which had ruptured, Ms Yingluck said repair work was expected to be finished today but she asked for cooperation from residents not to dismantle the dyke, and asserted that the government would give its full effort to help the flood victims.

The government had received more than Bt400 million in donations which would later distributed to help all the victims, she said.

The premier said that many foreign countries - China, Japan, South Korea, Laos, Israel, Denmark and the United States - have offered assistance particularly the US which proposed to send 28 helicopters to help search for victims, perform evacuations and transport heavy equipment.

She urged the public to have confidence in the government and asked them to join in fighting the problem and overcoming the difficulty together. -- NNN-TNA