Phuket flood aid bound for Bangkok

PHUKET: Phuket’s first main shipment of flood relief supplies left the island this afternoon, bound for Bangkok, where warnings of imminent flood disaster dominate the news tonight.

Phuket Governor Tri Augkaradacha at the Phuket Red Cross center waved forward 16 trucks bound for the flood-relief disaster response headquarters set up at Don Mueang Airport.

Each truck, made available by local companies on the island, was loaded with 18,000 bottles of drinking water.

“Flooding in Central Thailand has caused a lot of damage to our country. More than 300 people have died from drowning, many more lives are in danger,” Gov Tri said.

“I would like to ask everyone not to ignore this. Help by donating essential items. When we faced the tsunami many years ago, we received kindness from those who are now in trouble. Now is the time to show our spirit,” he said.

Following his call for the people of Phuket to help their countrymen, representatives of local companies offered their pledges one by one.

In total, Gov Tri received 2,177,500 baht in cash and cheques to go towards providing flood relief.

The Thai Flood Relief Center set up at the Phuket Red Cross offices in Phuket Town has been receiving donations of flood relief items since late last month.

“Items can be donated in person at Thai Red Cross Society, Phuket Chapter on Sakdidet 1 Road, and cash can be transferred to Krungthai Bank account ‘Phuket Aid for Flood Victims’ 805-0-39733-5,” Gov Tri said.

Volunteers at the center are working tonight to pack all the remaining donations of essential items so they can be dispatched for Bangkok tomorrow.

However, a volunteer at the center told the Gazette that it had yet to be decided whether the items will be sent by plane or truck.

People wanting to donate items at the Red Cross center tomorrow are urged to call the center first at 076-211766 to be sure that the items donated will reach those in need.

— Pimwara Choksakulpan