Thailand mulls sending humanitarian relief to storm hit Philippines

BANGKOK, Sept 28 (TNA) – The government of Thailand is considering sending humanitarian relief to the Philippines after the country was heavily hit by storms and flooding, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA)’s announcement released on Monday.

The Philippines’ National Disaster Coordination Council said tropical storm Ketsana dumped one month’s worth of rains on the Philippine capital of Manila and the surrounding areas of Luzon in a few hours on Saturday, causing massive flooding that left at least 100 dead with 32 persons still missing and more than 451,000 persons displaced.

The Philippine government declared a state of calamity in metropolitan Manila and 25 storm-hit provinces, allowing officials to use emergency funds for relief and rescue operations.

Thani Thongphakdi, deputy director-general of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Department of Information, told reporters that the government was considering to provide humanitarian relief to the Philippines.

The relief to be sent should be medical equipment and dried food, he said.

He said there has been no report from the Thai embassy in Manila that any Thais have been affected. The embassy was in contact with some 500 to 700 Thai citizens living in the Philippines.

National flag carrier Thai Airways International (THAI) could not depart from Manila airport which left some 200 passengers stranded there, he said, adding that Thai authorities were coordinating agencies concerned to provide assistance to the passengers.

Mr Thani said the embassy warned local Thais in the Philippines to be aware of diseases such as plague that could occur after the flood recedes.

Meanwhile, Thailand’s Meteorological Department announced that tropical storm “Ketsana” over the South China Sea was upgrading to typhoon and was centered about 420 km east of Danang, Vietnam.

It is moving west at a speed of 10 km/hr and expected to make landfall over the coast of Vietnam on Tuesday.

Ketsana is expected to move across neighbouring Laos ahead to Thailand’s northeastern province of Mukdahan by September 30.

More rain is likely with isolated heavy to very heavy rainfalls affecting Northeast of Thailand and then the others. People in the risky areas along the foothills near waterways and in Lowlands should beware of flooding condition during this period.

The severe weather alerts for provinces of Nakhon Phanom, Sakhon Nakhon, Mukdahan, Amnat Charoen, Roi Et, Ubon Ratchathani, Sisaket, Surin, Burirum and Nakhon Ratchasima.

The department also warned that winds and waves are likely to exceed two metres in the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand. Shipping was warned to proceed with caution. (TNA)