Flooding hits rafters

Floods closed 17 Lop Buri schools for three days, too.

Ten rafttour companies said tourists cancelled trips to Nadi dis¬trict. As many as 300 rafters will miss out on more than Bt100,000 in income. Tour companies lose nearly Bt1 million, Damri Rattanachinakorn, deputy president of Tambon Taphan Hin Administrative Organisation, said.

Damri, who is vice president of the local rafters association, too, insisted tours were still safe.

Allday heavy rains yesterday flooded the Kabin Buri Industrial Estate and surrounding areas.

HRH Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn sent medics to care for 200 Muang, Nakhon Ratchasima villagers. Relief packages, waterproof boots have been sent, too.

Caretaker deputy education Minister Boonlue Prasertsopha said 37 Lop Buri schools were flooded and 17 of those had been forced to close in Ban Mi, Khok Samrong and Tha Wung.

In Khon Kaen, days of heavy downpours have left many parts of Muang, Ban Phai, Nam Phong, Nong Rua and Khao Suan Kwang under more than a metre of water.

The Khon KaentoTha Phra Road was under 30 centimetres of water. Muang roads were flooded, causing traffic jams, while the School for the Blind remained under 1.5 metres of floodwater.

Soldiers build sandbag barriers and school pupils had to travel by boat.

Meanwhile, caretaker natural resources and environment Minister Anongwan Thepsuthin said Srinakarin Dam, Kanchanaburi; Khundan Dam, Nakhon Nayok and Pra Sae Dam, Rayong were at 80percent capacity.

The Royal Irrigation Department and Provincial Electricity Authority will release water in manageable volumes.

Nam Oon Dam, Sakhon Nakhon and Lam Phra Phloeng Dam, Nakhon Ratchasima are more than 80 per cent full.