Thailand flood deaths: 60... Measures to be taken in response to additional heavy rain forecast

Concerns about disruption of the IMF and World Bank annual general meetings scheduled to be held next week... All-out government response

(Hanoi = Yonhap News) Correspondent Park Jin-hyung = The number of deaths from the floods that hit Thailand in the middle of last month has risen to 60, and additional heavy rain is forecast ahead of a large-scale international event next week, so Thai authorities are working hard to prepare countermeasures.

According to AFP and Reuters on the 8th (local time), the Thai Ministry of the Interior announced the previous day that at least 60 people have died due to flooding that has occurred throughout the country, including the capital Bangkok, since mid-month.

As flooding continues in Bangkok and 27 provinces across the country, 1.15 million households are currently classified as damaged households.

In the central province of Prachinburi, where the highest number of deaths occurred with 19 people, over 188,000 residents suffered damage, with homes in seven areas submerged due to river overflow.

The Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) estimated that the damage to the Thai industry amounted to about 6 billion baht (approximately 239 billion won) due to the flood, which resulted in numerous delays and cancellations of Thai Airways flights, large amounts of unprocessed baggage, and the suspension of operations at factories such as Honda Motor Co.

Meanwhile, the Thailand Meteorological Agency predicted that showers accompanied by thunder and lightning, localized heavy rain, and hail will fall across the country, including Bangkok, from the 10th to the 12th ahead of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank annual general meeting to be held in Bangkok next week.

According to the Thai government, about 15,000 people, including delegations from 190 countries around the world, are scheduled to gather in Bangkok for this event, which will be held from the 12th to the 18th.

Local authorities are concerned that flooding may occur again, paralyzing traffic in Bangkok again, causing great chaos, including disruption of events.

Thai Prime Minister Anutin Chanwirakkun instructed relevant ministries to prepare to prevent the event from being disrupted by flooding.

Authorities said that the four main areas where this event will be held have not suffered flood damage despite recent heavy rains, and that emergency plans are in place in case the situation worsens.

The government has deployed approximately 5,000 police personnel throughout Bangkok to respond to related situations, and is also preparing response scenarios, such as mobilizing high-body tow trucks and helicopters when necessary.

The Korea Meteorological Administration said that experts will monitor weather conditions 24 hours a day and announce regional forecasts, and predicted that the rain will weaken from the 12th when the event begins.