91% of flood-hit areas back to normal: Witthaya

Public Health Minister Witthaya Buranasiri yesterday revealed the progress of post-flood rehabilitation in 65 provinces, announcing that 13 million people in the provinces had been affected, but 91 per cent of the areas had returned to normal.

Flood water remained in Ayutthaya, Lop Buri, Nakhon Pathom, Pathum Thani, Nonthaburi and Bangkok, he said. Witthaya said 96 per cent of flood-affected provinces had seen no disease outbreaks, which he said was a great success in the face of four-month-long floods. He said health officials assessed 125,800 flood victims and found 7,555 people under tremendous stress and 1,753 others at risk of committing suicide. Psychiatrists and mental health personnel would continue to check on them, he said.

Witthaya's announcement that water remained in the capital was at odds with a declaration on Friday by Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra that the capital was dry.

The governor also said officials should clear all remaining 11,666 tonnes of trash in Don Muang, Lak Si, Bang Khen, Sai Mai, Bang Khae, Nong Khaem, Thawee Watthana and Taling Chan districts by tomorrow, though it might take until Wednesday to remove the waste in Nong Khaem.