WITH many people now doubting the accuracy of the government’s death toll in the severe flooding of the South and calling for the real total to be released, former deputy national police chief Pol. Gen. Surachate Hakphan, nicknamed Big Joke, too urged Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul to do so and mentioned that the current count is 550 and that he is not rumour-mongering, PPTVD36 said this afternoon (Nov. 29).
The Centre for Emergency Response had said that as of 8 a.m. this morning the southern floods death toll had reached 162 as follows:
Songkhla: 126;
Nakhon Si Thammarat: 9;
Phatthalung: 4;
Trang: 2;
Satun: 5;
Pattani: 7;
Yala: 5
Narathiwat: 4.
In a Facebook post Pol. Gen. Surachate said, “To Anutin Charnvirakul, prime minister and interior minister, please release the true death toll. The count has now reached 550. I’m not delusional, but at this point, the Prime Minister must accept the pain and end it. This means accepting the facts, clearly stating where each body was found so that relatives can easily verify. Then, have the police and medical staff expedite the handover of the bodies to the relatives, and prepare a funeral service location for them. Don’t just throw the blame at the foundations; the foundations are already helping.”
Anutin was also urged to state what the government has been doing and how he has prepared for the situation in December as the rains have just started.
The Prime Minister should assess the water situation thoroughly and truthfully explain to the public what steps are being taken with this including when and where compensation can be received and where those who survived the critical floods but are sick could get medical treatment, he said, adding flood victims also need disinfectant and assistance in cleaning their houses and shops.
Meanwhile the Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) is mobilising around a thousand technicians to restore Hat Yai’s electricity system with emphasis on maximum safety.
Mr. Mongkol Trikitjanon, PEA’s governor, presided over a meeting to expedite the inspection and restoration of the power distribution system and assist the flood victims in this key southern city.
The approximately thousand technicians are being sent there from all 12 PEA zones nationwide with work to be done in areas where floodwaters have receded to prevent accidents and short circuits.
CAPTIONS:
Former deputy national police chief Pol. Gen. Surachate Hakphan. Photo above – PPTVHD36, Front Page – Naewna
First insert – Hat Yai after floodwaters receded. Photo – PPTVHD36
Second insert – PEA Governor Mongkol Trikitjanon. Photo – PPTVHD36
Also read:
Prawit opts to vie for PM again in upcoming election
Thaksin’s son-in-law tipped to be named among trio of Pheu Thai candidates for PM
PM flies to Hat Yai for fourth time to oversee flood relief work
Severe floods have cost southern economy 25 billion baht so far: Research
