WEATHER

Alarm over new typhoon

Officials discuss measures to deal with storm building up off Philippines coast; two more drown as flood waters recede

Local authorities and relief agencies yesterday held an urgent meeting to discuss the risk of heavy rains and a worsening flood situation as Typhoon Chimaron develops off the Philippines coast and will likely head here.

Royal Irrigation Department director-general Samart Choke-khanaphithak released no details on whether urgent solutions had been decided or what would be done to handle the typhoon. He called on people planning to travel to the Philippines to check international weather forecasts and warnings before catching their flights.

He said the water volume flowing past Angthong and Nakhon Sawan through the Chao Phya and Pasak rivers had decreased a bit. This would make the flood situation in both heavily inundated provinces better as long as Typhoon Chimaron did not soon reach Thailand.

Two people drowned in Angthong province including a 14-year-old boy while swimming with his friends in Muang district. There are now only three bodies of flood victims left in the district's morgue after a number of bodies were claimed by relatives.

Her Royal Highness Princess Srirasmi, on behalf of her husband His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn, made visits to several areas in Pho Thong district in Angthong and provided foodstuffs for use with a number of mobile kitchens he ordered to serve flood victims.

Relief supplies and more food ingredients are needed for flood victims living in provinces that are suffering from long-term inundation. Donation of those items and money can be made at Sukhothai Palace, the prince's official residence, or by calling (02) 242 9800, as well as at provincial city halls nationwide.

An official report said about 600,000 people around the country had health problems from the flooding and were receiving hospital treatment. The largest intake rate recorded recently was 10,000 patients a day, said Public Health Ministry permanent secretary Prat Bunyawongwiroj.

State hospitals in the five worst-hit provinces of Sing Buri, Angthong, Ayutthaya, Suphan Buri and Nonthaburi, all located in the Central region, are now saved from water behind sandbag walls to provide services to local residents around the clock, he added.

The largest number of the patients suffer from Hong Kong foot (261,168 cases). The remaining sicknesses and symptoms are: rashes, high fever, stress, red eyes, getting bitten by poisonous reptiles, diarrhoea, and backache and physical pain caused by heavy labour used in moving belongings.

The Nation