Her Royal Highness Princess Srirasmi, the Royal Consort of HRH Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn, gives flood-relief items to a stranded resident of Tambon Bang Chao Cha in Angthong’s Pho Thong district yesterday. The princess earlier distributed relief at

Some 167 schools in Suphan Buri town, Si Prachan, and Bang Pla Ma districts remain inundated. But Sanguanying, Anubal Suphan Buri and Suphannaphum schools in Suphan Buri town were hit hard by one-metre-deep water, Educational Zone Office Region 1 director Kit Kiatsomkit said. So, these schools will not open on the official back-to-school day.

Former Chat Thai MP Nattawut Prasert-suwan, said Song Phi Nong and Bang Pla Ma had been submerged for over a month. A vast amount of farmland and fish ponds had been damaged, and some flooded areas were becoming polluted.

Tambon Jorakheyai administration president Bancha Wiriyapat raised concern about compensation for farmers, saying those affected by floods last year had still not received any pay-outs from the government.

Agriculture and Co-operatives Minister Thira Sutabutra said he would propose to the Cabinet meeting on Tuesday initial compensation of Bt1.9 billion, allowing Bt1.4 billion for 5.7 million rai of damaged farmland, Bt314 million for three million livestock animals and Bt140 million for 100,000 rai of fish farms.

The Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department reported yesterday that 3.53 million people in 47 provinces have been affected floods since late August.

Parts of 15 provinces are still submerged while 142 people have been killed and 2.75 million rai of farmland damaged. Estimated total losses were Bt334.4 million.

Meanwhile, the Royal Irrigation Department (RID) warned provinces on the west side of the Chao Phya river basin of more floods.

The already inundated provinces included Sing Buri, Angthong, Ayutthaya, Suphan Buri, Pathum Thani and Nonthaburi.

RID director-general Samart Chokanapitak said water volume passing through the Chao Phya River at Nakhon Sawan yesterday was at 4,925 cubic metres per second - 250 cubic metres down from the previous day.

The water volume in Chai Nat was at 4,030 cubic metres per second and reached Bangkok at a rate of 3,527 cubic metres per second. The highest water level was measured at Bangkok's Memorial Bridge, at 2.2 metres.

While floodwater in other provinces such as Sing Buri and Angthong began to subside, flood prevention barriers were broken by strong currents in Pathum Thani inundating Muang, Lat Lum Kaeo and Sam Khok districts.

In Bangkok, despite sandbag embankments, floodwater had gradually seeped yesterday over Tha Prachan Pier, as well as Tha Prachan Klang, Nakhon and Tha Pra alleys.

City Governor Apirak Kosayodhin and his deputy Bannasophit Mekwichai rushed to investigate the areas, which were already under 50 centimetres of water.

Apirak said the Chao Phya River reached 2.1 metres, lower than the previous day. The city also asked the Marine Department to warn transport boat operators to go slowly to avoid causing problems for riverside residents.

City officials will still be on alert for high sea tides from November 6 to 8 that might affect western Bangkok, especially along the Maha Sawadi Canal and Bangkok Noi neighbourhood.

The flood crisis had prompted the city to consider cancelling Loy Kratong celebrations under the Rama VIII Bridge, Apirak said. A final inspection would be made on Sunday week (Nov 5) on whether to scrap the event.