DESPAIR and disease are the twin fears of thousands of people as more rain and floods wash away hopes and dreams across large tracts of Thailand.
It was all too much for the leader of one local community who hanged herself. ''I cannot help my people,'' was her final message.
The toll rose officially to 56 today, with the water beginning to leave a stench in buildings where it has failed to retreat for almost a week.
Rice along with people was drowning under an excess of water across more than 30 provinces. One estimated put the quantity of destroyed grain at 400,000 tonnes.
Criticism was being levelled too at the Government, with aid as hard to find as an Army vehicle. To make matters worse, the high tide seemed to be deepening on the road from Korat, epicentre of the calamity, to Bangkok, where the capital is expected to soon be besieged by a wall of water.
We made it through, but the main highway to Korat City was impassable. ''Nobody is going to help you,'' was the message delivered by one person we spoke to.
Everything we have seen over the past few days confirms the reality that there is too much water over too great an area for under-equipped and ill-prepared Thai authorities to cope.
Despair and disease. We saw plenty of one along the way, and we hope the other can be kept at bay. The water will be with us for a long time yet.
Monsoon Storm Alert: Phuket Set for PoundingIt was all too much for the leader of one local community who hanged herself. ''I cannot help my people,'' was her final message.
The toll rose officially to 56 today, with the water beginning to leave a stench in buildings where it has failed to retreat for almost a week.
Rice along with people was drowning under an excess of water across more than 30 provinces. One estimated put the quantity of destroyed grain at 400,000 tonnes.
Criticism was being levelled too at the Government, with aid as hard to find as an Army vehicle. To make matters worse, the high tide seemed to be deepening on the road from Korat, epicentre of the calamity, to Bangkok, where the capital is expected to soon be besieged by a wall of water.
We made it through, but the main highway to Korat City was impassable. ''Nobody is going to help you,'' was the message delivered by one person we spoke to.
Everything we have seen over the past few days confirms the reality that there is too much water over too great an area for under-equipped and ill-prepared Thai authorities to cope.
Despair and disease. We saw plenty of one along the way, and we hope the other can be kept at bay. The water will be with us for a long time yet.
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