September 20, 2010

Thai farms and fisheries hit by floods

Flooding has caused extensive damage to Thailand's farmland and fisheries as well as the death of hundreds of thousands of poultry.

Heavy flooding in nine provinces has devastated at least 224,000 hectares of farmland and 2,400 hectares of fisheries, and resulted in the deaths of 720,000 animals used as livestock, mostly poultry, the Agriculture Ministry said.

According to reports, the report was submitted to cabinet during its meeting on September 14 and provided an update on the losses incurred by flooding as of the previous day.

It covers Chiang Rai, Sukhothai, Phitsanulok, Nakhon Sawan, Ayutthaya, Lop Buri, Saraburi, Chaiyaphum and Sakon Nakhon.

The Meteorological Department issued a warning of possible heavy rains and flash floods in the lower North, upper Central Plain and lower Northeast.