The Ministry of Defense is ready to mobilize all forces and equipment to Chiang Rai to speed up the recovery after the flood, remove mud, and spray and clean up.
Maj. Gen. Thanathip Sawangsaeng, spokesman for the Ministry of Defense, said that the Prime Minister and his team visited Chiang Rai yesterday to follow up on the progress of the integrated plan for recovery and assistance for those affected after the flood in Chiang Rai and flood-affected areas in the northern provinces. He ordered all agencies to urgently assist the people in recovery and assistance, and to set up a center for disaster relief (forward).
Ms. Thirat Rattanawanich, Deputy Minister of Interior, will be the chairperson and Gen. Nattapol Nakphanich, Deputy Minister of Defense, will be the advisor to act as the command center and overall coordination. They will be stationed at the site for at least 30 days until the situation improves. They will mobilize personnel through the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Justice, together wi
th volunteers and various private agencies.
The Defense Ministry spokesman added that Mr. Phumtham Vejjayachai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, as the Chairman of the Operation Center for Flood, Storm, and Landslide Relief (OCRR), has ordered the armed forces to prepare to mobilize all personnel, officers, equipment, machinery, and tools to provide timely assistance. At the same time, the Deputy Defense Minister has strengthened the military, civilians, volunteer citizens, and officers from all sectors to urgently integrate assistance, rehabilitation, and relief for victims in Chiang Rai Province and the northern region in accordance with the Prime Minister’s policy.
The armed forces have mobilized personnel and equipment such as trucks, graders, excavators, 10-ton trucks, water jetting trucks, cleaning equipment, and various necessary tools. They have also brought high-pressure water jetting machines and 100 sets of equipment, which the King and Queen have given, to help restore houses of pe
ople affected by flooding in Chiang Rai Province and other areas.
Currently, personnel are rushing to clean the area, spraying, digging up mud, and removing debris and damaged items from flooding along roads, travel routes, communities, and houses. They will provide assistance until the situation improves.
The latest, on September 28, Mr. Phumtham and his team traveled to Lampang Airport and then traveled by helicopter to Kiew Kho Ma Dam, Pong Don Subdistrict, Chae Hom District, Lampang Province, to fly and closely inspect the water situation in the Wang River, Kiew Lom Dam, and Kiew Kho Ma Dam. Ms. Nitiya Phongphanit, Deputy Governor of Lampang Province, welcomed them and listened to a water situation briefing from the Deputy Director-General of the Maintenance Division, Royal Irrigation Department, and assistance from the Disaster Relief Center, 32nd Army Circle, 3rd Army Area. The current situation is that the amount of water is still flowing into Kiew Kho Ma Dam and Kiew Lom Dam, but the amount has decr
eased compared to the amount of water released, making it controllable and not as severe as in 2011. However, there is still water in the Wang River basin downstream of Kiew Lom Dam, Kiew Kho Ma Dam, and the Wang River overflowing the banks into agricultural areas and low-lying areas of the Wang River, affecting people’s houses and agricultural areas. Affected: 12 districts, 55 sub-districts, 273 villages, 4,951 households
The 32nd Army Area Disaster Relief Center has integrated the establishment of a disaster relief command center to monitor the situation 24 hours a day and a donation center to help disaster victims in both Chiang Rai and Lampang. It has also mobilized more than 600 personnel to organize operations to help the people, including disaster relief operations, volunteer operations, military police, medical personnel, field kitchen vehicles, civil affairs, volunteer military training, and volunteer operations to assist in recovery after returning to normal in various missions.
‘The areas have be
en divided and assigned to the 32nd Infantry Division, which is responsible for 7 districts; the 2nd Infantry Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, which is responsible for 4 districts; and the 3rd Special Warfare Training Company, Pratu Pha Camp, which is responsible for 2 districts. Currently, personnel and equipment have been mobilized to work in the affected areas continuously so that people can return to their normal lives as soon as possible,’ said Maj. Gen. Thanathip.
Source: Thai News Agency