PM orders Gaemi storm response centres set up

October 5, 2012

BANGKOK, Oct 5 – Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra ordered the disaster prevention and mitigation department to set up a command centre in response to tropical storm Gaemi, which is forecast to pass Thailand on Sunday with a one day impact.

Chartchai Promlert, director-general of the disaster prevention and mitigation department held a tele-conference with governors and acting governors of 30 provinces likely to be hit by heavy rain, a result of the storm.

They discussed preparations for the upcoming storm. The Water and Flood Management Commission (WFMC) agreed that each province would set up special centres to deal with it and a command centre at the disaster prevention and mitigation department office to respond to emergencies around the clock.

Provincial governors were assigned to report the situation to the command centre and to equip with all communications devices on hand as well as have temporary shelters for evacuation.

Somchai Baimuang, deputy director general of the meteorological department, said the storm is in the mid-South China Sea and will make landfall over central Vietnam tomorrow, enter Thailand on Sunday, passing the lower Northeast, the East and Central Thailand.

Its impact is likely to last only one day before it moves to Myanmar on Monday. Accompanying the storm will be torrential rains, heavy to very heavy, in many areas.

Provinces on special alert are Ubon Ratchathani, Si Sa Ket, Surin, Buriram, Ayutthaya, Sing Buri, Chai Nat, Nonthaburi, Nakhon Ratchasima, Nakhon Nayok, Pathum Thani, Kanchanaburi, Suphan Buri, Ang Thong and Lop Buri. (MCOT online news)

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