Perilous
Times and Climate Change
One-third of Thailand under flood waters, declared
'disaster' area - government
* From: AFP
* October 12, 2011 10:37PM
THAILAND today declared a third of its provinces to be disaster
zones, as auto giant Toyota called a halt to work after production
was affected by the country's worst flooding in decades.
The government's move aims to speed up relief operations, as the
floods have left at least 281 people dead and damaged millions of
homes and livelihoods in more than two months.
"The government has announced that all provinces affected by the
floods are critical disaster areas, allowing governors to exercise
more authority to issue materials and manage budgets," deputy
premier Yongyuth Wichaidit said.
Currently 26 out of 77 provinces are affected, while the capital
Bangkok is bracing for a large amount of run-off water to reach
the city in mid-October, when high tides will make it harder for
the flood waters to flow out to sea.
Officials have bolstered flood defences at the main airport and
other areas to shield the city of 12 million people, a number of
whom have been stocking up on sandbags, non-perishable food and
other essential items.
Areas just north of the capital have already seen water up to
several metres deep. Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said that
those living outside the beefed-up defences needed to prepare
themselves for flooding.
"If inner Bangkok is flooded, it will only flood a little, but we
should be concerned for those who live outside the barriers," she
told the press on a visit to a flood relief operations centre at
Bangkok airport.
The premier met King Bhumibol Adulyadej today to discuss the
crisis.
Japan's biggest automaker Toyota said that production at its three
Thailand plants would be halted at least until Saturday.
While floods have not directly impacted its Samrong, Gateway and
Ban Pho operations, Toyota said they have caused disruption to
parts supply.
Operations at the three plants have been halted since Monday and
the company will decide Saturday on whether to resume production.
The flooding has also stuck countries neighbouring Thailand,
including Cambodia, where more than 200 people have died. In
Vietnam, the toll has risen to 34 and officials say most of the
dead are children.