Govt says 'sorry'

In parliament yesterday, Froc director Pracha Promnok issued an apology to flood victims for the government's slow response to the flood crisis, as the overall situation finally begins to improve.

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The government has apologised to flood-affected residents, like these two evacuees from the Rangsit area, for its slow response to the crisis

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Govt apologises to flood victims

Water levels start to drop in Bangkok's inner-north

POST REPORTERS
  
The government has apologised to people affected by its slow response to the flooding crisis as water levels began to recede in some affected areas.

Justice Minister Pracha Promnok, director of the Flood Relief Operations Command (Froc), yesterday issued the apology in parliament.

He also pledged to drain floodwaters as soon as possible.

The Froc director attributed the flooding to three major storms that directly hit Thailand and brought with them large amounts of rainwater.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra also thanked opposition and Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva in parliament for his show of moral support in saying it was not necessary for her to step down in the wake of the disaster, as is being demanded by some.

While efforts to keep central Bangkok dry seemed to have been successful, with a decline of flood water on major roads, the situation elsewhere remains dire, particularly in Thon Buri, where hundreds of residents blocked Rama II road last night in a demand to remove a sandbag dyke responsible for the protracted inundation in their community.

Around 8pm yesterday, about 1,000 residents from Keha Chumchon Thon Buri 2 housing estate and nearby areas blocked inbound Rama II road in front of Bang Khunthian electricity office, demanding the dismantling of a sandbag dyke built by Keha Chumchon Thon Buri 1 housing estate.

The crowd agreed to disperse after police dismantled the dyke, but the two community groups plan to continue negotiations today.

Receding water levels were observed yesterday on Vibhavadi Rangsit, Phahon Yothin and Ratchadapisek roads, which are linked with inner Bangkok.

The flood water dropped by tens of centimetres in some areas, but just 1-2cm in others.

The water level in Khlong Bang Sue, into which the floods on these three main roads is being drained, also decreased by 10cm yesterday.

About 4 million cubic metres of water are being drained into the Chao Phraya River via the canal per day.

However, floods levels continued to rise or to affect new areas in the eastern and western parts of Bangkok.

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apologise – to say you are sorry for doing something wrong or for causing a problem ขอโทษ
residents – people who live in a particular area ประชาชนที่อาศัยในท้องที่
evacuee – a person who leaves a place of danger ผู้อพยพ
crisis – a situation that has reached and extremely difficult or dangerous point ช่วงวิกฤต
victim – someone who has been affected by a bad situation, such as a disaster, illness or an accident เหยื่อผู้เคราะห์ร้าย
level – the amount of liquid that there is in a container, river, dam, etc., which can be seen by how high the liquid is ระดับ
recede – to move back; to move further away into the distance; subside ลดลง, ถอยหลัง
Flood Relief Operations Centre (Froc) – the government's centre for assisting flood victims ศูนย์ปฎิบัติการช่วยเหลือผู้ประสบอุทกภัย(ศปภ)
pledge – to make a serious promise to do something สัญญา
drain – to cause water or fluid to flow out ระบายออก
attribute to – to believe that something is the result of a particular situation, event, or person’s actions ถือว่าเป็นของ
opposition – of a political party that is not part of the government ฝ่ายค้าน  
moral support – giving someone encouragement ให้กำลังใจ
in the wake of – happening after an event or as a result of it  สืบเนื่องมาจาก
disaster – an unexpected event, such as a very bad accident, a flood or a fire, that kills a lot of people or causes a lot of damage ความหายนะ ความล่มจม ความโชคร้าย
demand – a very firm request for something ข้อเรียกร้อง, การเรียกร้อง
decline – becoming less การลดลง
situation – all the circumstances and things that are happening at a particular time and in a particular place  สถานการณ์
dire – very serious or extreme เลวร้ายมาก
block – to stop someone/ something from moving through or along something else  ปิดกั้น, กีดขวาง
remove – to take something away เอาออกจาก
dyke – a wall built to prevent the sea or a river from covering an area, or a channel dug to take water away from an area เขื่อนกั้นน้ำ
protracted – lasting for a long time ที่ยืดเยื้อเป็นเวลานาน
inundation – flooding น้ำท่วม
community – the people living in one particular area ชุมชน
housing estate – residential estate; an area containing a large number of houses or apartments built close together at the same time บ้านจัดสรร
inbound – travelling towards a particular point, particularly into a city ขาเข้า (opposite of outbound ขาออก)
dismantle – to take something apart รื้อ
disperse – (of a crowd of people) to separate and leave in different directions  สลายฝูงชน
negotiations – formal discussion in which people or groups try to reach an agreement การเจรจาต่อรอง
observe – to watch or study someone or something with care สังเกตการณ์
linked – connected เชื่อมโยง
decrease – to become less ลดลง, น้อยลง
via – through  ผ่าน