Flooding continues in 14 provinces in Thailand

Flood assistance has progressed, Thailand''s Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said Tuesday, with 14 provinces still impacted. The prime minister reported progress in handling the flood emergency under the "Bangrakam Model" project with a ''war room'' being set up by the Interior Ministry in Phisanulok to tackle flooding in the area. She said the governor has worked closely with the war room team and she herself will inspect flood-impacted areas and followup operations. Floods in the northeastern province of Roi Et hit 5,293 houses and 29,194 rais (973 acres) of farmland with the rising water in canals, Thailand''s News Agency (MCOT) reported. Some roads were cut and a flood prevention embankment in Wangluang district was eroded, but local residents sealed the breaches in the dykes and built a sand embankment. The province announced disaster zones and local authorities monitored the water situation around the clock and are ready to evacuate local residents in case of emergency. Flooding has affected 3,484,587 people and killed 41 people in 13 provinces. One person went missing in a landslide in the northeastern province of Mae Hong Son. Currently, flooding has eased in 16 provinces but continues in 14 provinces, affecting 1,142,712 people and damaged 2.3 million rais (more than 79,000 acres) of farmland.