Flood death toll rising at 51; Thaksin orders response

BANGKOK, May 25 (TNA) - Thailand's emergency response capacity is being tightlly stretched as government authorities confirmed Wednesday night that the death toll of persons killed in flash floods and mudslides in the northern provinces of Uttaradit, Sukhothai, Phrae, Lampang and Nan has risen to 51.

Caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra on Thursday called an urgent meeting of heads of agencies concerned and ordered immediate action to tackle the floods now devastating the country's North.

The Public Health Ministry's Narenthorn Rescue Centre, which is coordinating emergency responses, said 51 people had died and 170 were missing from the flooding that began Monday after several days of torrential rains.

Mr. Thaksin, returning from the flood-hit northern provinces of Uttaradit and Sukhothai Wednesday, instructed officials of state agencies to work closely with governors of the provinces devastated by heavy floods and mudslides and said the government had sufficient budget to help the natural disaster victims.

While five provinces are currently battling floods, the hardest-hit is Uttaradit province in which 46 persons have died and 83 are missing. More provinces could be at risk if the rains continue.

The military and various government ministries are pouring personnel and supplies into the stricken areas.

More than 100 special warfare soldiers have been dispatched from their Lopburi headquarters in central Thailand to help search for the missing and assist in reconstruction, while the Public Health Ministry has sent more than 30 mobile medical teams to provide emergency aid.

Earlier, the caretaker prime minister had ordered the three Armed Forces commanders to provide emergency aid for people in the inundated areas.

Military search and rescue teams are in operation, especially in areas of difficult access.

"What we must urgently do now is searching for survivors and bodies of the dead which have not yet been retrieved," the prime minister said. "Relief operations will follow after residents have been evacuated to safer places."

Mr. Thaksin said the government will provide shelters and food as initial aid, and later restore damaged houses or even build new ones for those suffering losses.

Meanwhile, Caretaker Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Sudarat Keyuraphan said Mr. Thaksin had ordered major dam floodgates opened to accelerate the drainage of water to prevent dam erosion that might trigger more floods in the areas nearby.

TNA
May 25, 2549

Armed Forces respond to Royal flood appeal

BANGKOK, May 25 (TNA) - Responding to a Royal appeal by the Thai monarch, His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, for rapid rescue of flood victims in the country's north, Thailand's Supreme Commander General Ruengroj Mahasaranond on Thursday said that the armed forces are fully prepared to help other agencies in the rescue and relief operations.

He said the responsibility of the armed forces would mainly focus on restoring homes and construction destroyed or seriously damaged by heavy floods and mudslides, as well as building knock-down houses as temporary shelters for those whose homes were damaged.

At least 300 homes were reported to have been swept away by flash floods and mudslides, mostly in worst-hit Uttaradit province.

Besides, the supreme commander said, the military forces are also now providing assistance in rescuing and searching for the missing, starting on Wednesday.

In the clean-up operation as floodwaters are subsiding, the armed forces have brought heavy machinery to help clear access into the submerged areas where transporting routes have been made impassible for days.

In the meantime, the Royal Thai Army has brought military mobile mess trucks into flood-hit areas to provide hot meals for those suffering loss.

The soldiers at each kitchen truck are able to prepare food to feed at least 1,000 people for each meal, said Gen. Ruengroj.

The military operations will not overlap those of other state agencies, all of which, Gen. Ruengroj said, have good intentions and the military itself is taking action in response to the royal command.

TNA
May 25, 2549