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IOL News
Bangkok
- At least 18 Thai villagers were killed and more than 60
are missing after a landslide caused by monsoon rains swept
away their homes in the northern province of Phrae early
on Friday, officials said.
The
landslide, which tore through an isolated valley in the
early hours of the morning, devastated more than 300 simple
dwellings, said Phrae governor Anukul Kunawong.
Flash
flooding hit Wang Chin district in Phrae, 550km from Bangkok,
after two days of heavy rains which marked the start of
the monsoon season.
Provincial
authorities estimate that about 4 000 people in 800 households
have been affected by the floods, but the number of missing
cannot be confirmed as the roads are impassable.
The
interior ministry's civil defence department said the death
toll stood at 18, with 30 missing. But the public health
ministry said that, after consulting with local health officials,
it found 61 were unaccounted for.
Prime
Minister Thaksin Shinawatra blamed meteorological experts
for the deaths, saying they had failed to issue advance
flood warnings for the region.
"I
will summon officials from the meteorological department
to ask why villagers were not fully warned of a big catastrophe
beforehand," he said.
The
premier also ordered Interior Minister Purachai Piemsomboon
to leave for the devastated area Friday, and said extra
funds should be made available for disaster relief.
Anukul
blamed the tragedy on logging that has destroyed forests
in the area.
"Wang
Chin is a district surrounded by mountains and the Wieng
Kosai national park," he said. "This has clearly
happened because of excessive depletion of the forests."
- Sapa-AFP
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