131 Pinoys assisted in flood-hit Thailand

At least 131 Filipinos have been assisted in the wake of the flooding problem in Thailand even as the Philippine embassy there said Sunday it is bracing for the possibility of authorities ordering evacuation from more areas in Bangkok soon. The embassy, in an update on its website, also said there are many other Filipinos requesting for relief goods after being evacuated or staying with friends in higher areas. “The total number of Filipinos directly assisted by the Embassy because of the flooding stands at 131. The Embassy, however, continues to receive requests for relief goods (canned food, noodles, and rice) from those who were earlier evacuated and now staying at friends’ houses in higher places in Bangkok," it said. “Evacuation from more areas of Bangkok is likely to be recommended within the next few days," it added. Earlier, the embassy recommended to the Department of Foreign Affairs that the travel advisory to Bangkok be elevated from “Exercise caution" to “Reconsider your need to travel." It said the extent of the flooding situation in Bangkok is changing very rapidly, and no one is certain what would happen between now and November 1 when the flooding is expected to peak. Authorities had indicated a possible peaking of floods due to the high tides and the large volume of water flowing from the northern provinces through Chao Phraya river, which is now traversing Bangkok itself. The Embassy also noted both Thailand’s prime minister and Bangkok’s governor have asked residents to move their belongings to higher ground in preparation for the flooding. It said that on late afternoon Thursday, the Governor openly asked people in three districts north of the capital — Don Muang Bang Phlad, and Thawi Wattana — “to leave" after days of refraining from using the word “evacuation." The embassy also said its staff had personally witnessed supplies of rice, egg, bottled water and other basic necessities running low in many department stores and groceries. “In some groceries, some shelves have been emptied of these basic items," it said. Due of the flooding, transport service has also been suspended in some parts of the city, it added. - KBK, GMA News