Permanent Secretary for Public Health Dr Prat Boonyawongwirot urged some 200 southern health officials at the meeting to prepare facilities, medical supplies and mobile medical units for the flooding that is expected to result from the monsoon season rains.

Meanwhile, ministry deputy permanent secretary Manit Thiratantikanont said the recent floods that hit Central Thailand for over two months caused 654,183 people to fall ill from water-borne diseases. Nontha-buri was the hardest hit with 176,258 cases, followed by Angthong's 67,115, Ayutthaya's 61,431 and Suphan Buri's 48,667. Hand, foot and mouth disease was the most common illness at 44 per cent, followed by rashes at 14 per cent and flu at 11 per cent.

As the floodwater gradually subsided, parts of 15 provinces remained submerged with Suphan Buri, Nonthaburi, Sing Buri, Angthong and Ayutthaya especially hard hit.

Flood-relief operations have been implemented, aided by a Bt5-million donation from PTT Public Company Ltd to Army chief General Sonthi Boonyaratglin.

The Education Ministry's Office of the Higher Education Commission, meanwhile, has assigned a special working team to assist flood-affected people and support nine higher education networks at its regional-level coordination centres, to ensure quick and efficient flood-assistance and allow volunteer university students to participate in flood-relief activities.

In Nakhon Sawan, the body of fisherman Chao Kaewdaeng, 78, was found in a three-metre-deep swamp yesterday morning. He was reported missing on Monday afternoon.