Flood in Thailand spreads to Bangkok

Laaska News Oct. 15,2011

 

Flooding caused by record rainfall in Thailand has spread from the central province of Ayutthaya to the capital Bangkok.

About 290 people have died in the floods, mostly in Ayutthaya. The waters have inundated the province’s industrial area, where about 300 Japanese firms operate factories.

On Friday evening, a Thai worker was slightly injured in an explosion at a plastic factory in the region. The blast is suspected to have been caused by chemical substances at the facility reacting with water.

Meanwhile, strong rain continues to fall intermittently in Bangkok. A spring tide has also caused rivers to overflow, and some homes have been inundated.

Help from the international community continues to arrive. On Friday, about 390 thousand dollars’ worth of aid supplies — including tents, blankets, and power generators — were delivered to the Thai government from Japan.

Japanese ambassador to Thailand Seiji Kojima said his country received much encouragement following the March 11th earthquake and tsunami, and Japan would like to return the kindness.

Thai weather authorities say that heavy rains will continue through the end of the month, leading to concerns that the damage will spread further.

NHK.
Laaska News.
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