UBON RATCHATHANI, Sept 17 (TNA) – Flood victims in the
northeastern Ubon Ratchathani province are receiving an outpour of help from
people across the country as floodwater is slowly receding.
Water level of the Mun River that runs through the
northeastern province dropped 40 centimeters from its peak last Friday. It was measured Tuesday morning at 10.57
meters at a water monitoring station in Ubon Ratchathani city, 3.57 meters over
the riverbank.
The majority of flood victims in 17 districts, declared
disaster zones, needed to remain at evacuation centers which have been set up
since tropical storms Podul and Kajiki hit the region early this month.
As local authorities are struggling to drain water, an
underground water bank project has been launched as another effort to ease the
flooding. Acting as underground
reservoirs, the water banks help lower floodwater and store it to be used in
dry season.
The plight of Ubon Ratchatani residents has drawn outpouring
helps from public and private agencies.
Even Buddhist monks have collected donations ranging from food, relief
supplies and cash from people by setting up donation centers inside the temple
compounds.
In Si Sa Ket, a group of 30 monks received donations on
behalf of the flood victims at the provincial hall.
On Tuesday night, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha joined a
special televised charity program broadcast on MCOT HD as a campaign to help
food victims in Ubon Ratchathani and elsewhere.
The prime minister, cabinet ministers and celebrities took
the phone calls from donors. The
government also designated a bank account of government-run Krungthai Bank to
receive cash donations.(TNA)
