The Public Health Ministry has revealed yesterday, that more than 30,000 people are suffering from severe stress caused by the extensive flooding since late August. Ministry spokesman Supan Srithamma said medical mobile units in the flood-affected areas found 30,350 people suffering from high stress levels due to loss of relatives or property, and seven per cent of them had fallen ill.

Health permanent secretary Dr Prat Boonyawongvirot explained during a visit to units in flood-affected Suphan Buri that water-born diseases, skin infections and common colds were the most common afflictions. He said more than 17 000 patients were being treated each day. In Angthong 40,000 the units had seen patients and 64 per cent of that number had fallen ill with water-born diseases.

In the last few months 104 people had drowned, of which most were children. Most of the drownings took place in Phichit and Ayutthaya.

Meanwhile, Southern Thailand was warned of possible floods and landslides in the next two days. The Meteorological Department warned the provinces from Surat Thani southwards of heavy rainfall, and urged residents in risk areas to brace for floods. Strong, three-metre-high waves were expected in the Gulf of Thailand.

The Mineral Resources Department warned Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phatthalung, Songkhla, Krabi, Trang, Satun and nearby provinces of possible forest run-offs and landslides.

Angthong Governor Wiboon Sanguanpong yesterday described flooding in the province as the “worst in 111 years”, with all seven districts under “chest-deep water in some spots”.

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