GUANGZHOU – Typhoon Haima barreled into Guangdong, triggering sudden downpours in several cities.

Disasters brought by Typhoon Haima have affected 1.69 million people in South China’s Guangdong province, said the provincial civil affairs department on Sunday, according to Xinhua as reported by China Daily.

Typhoon Haima barreled into Guangdong Friday, triggering sudden downpours in several cities.

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Hong Kong in lockdown as Typhoon Haima nears

Source:

Reuters

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There have been no reports of casualties following the timely evacuation of 668,000 people to safer areas.

The department has received reports of damage to 2,749 houses and some 178,000 hectares of crops. The department estimated that the economic losses total 3.5 billion yuan (S$720 million).

The typhoon caused power outages to 2.12 million households. By Saturday, 95.5 per cent of them had regained power supply, thanks to emergency repairs by the provincial power grid company.

Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) spokesperson Threedow Aphaiwongs Sukhum said yesterday the number of people allowed into the Palace throne hall each day could be adjusted based on situations in the future.

She spoke at a press conference held after a daily meeting of a newly formed Joint Safety Command Centre, which oversees the massive gathering at Sanam Luang and areas adjacent to the Grand Palace.

The areas have become crowded with mourners waiting to enter the Grand Palace complex to pay respects to the late King.

The spokeswoman said an average of 30,000 to 40,000 people had entered the Sala Sahathai Samakhom in the Grand Palace since October 15 to sign messages of condolence in tribute to the late King. His Majesty, who was in his 89th year, passed away on October 13.

331856

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A look back at Thailand’s King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s life

Source:

Reuters

AFP

The Straits Times

The Nation/ANN

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Starting this Saturday, only about 10,000 people will be allowed to enter the Dusit Maha Prasat Throne Hall in the Grand Palace to prostrate themselves in front of the Royal Urn and the King’s body.

“The throne hall is relatively small and many royal ceremonies are held there. So fewer people can get inside,” Threedow said.

She said management of the queue to enter the Palace and facilities such as tents and toilet buses had been boosted to cope with the large influx in mourners expected from Saturday.

All mourners who wish to enter the Grand Palace complex are required to receive queue cards, whether they want to sign the condolence book or also pay respects in front of the Royal Urn and the King’s body.

There is only one point providing cards for the queue, at a tent behind the entrance to Sanam Luang, adjacent to a T-junction of Phrachan Road, on a corner of Thammasat University’s Tha Phrachan campus.

Read also: Rituals in a Royal’s death

People can get the numbered cards starting at 5.30am until the quota runs out.

Many disappointed mourners said they had only learned that they needed a queue card after already waiting in long queues.

“I did not know I needed a queue card to enter the Grand Palace. I waited in a very long queue in the burning sun for over half an hour until an official told me to step out of the line and go get such a card. I do not know if today I will have a chance to pay homage to the King,” Chanya Poleait said.

The 47-year-old from Samut Prakan, who was joined by her mother and sister, had arrived at Sanam Luang, the field in front of the Grand Palace, at 11am.

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PM Lee pays last respects to late Thai King in Bangkok

Source:

Reuters

AFP

The Straits Times

The New Paper

MCI

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At 2.30pm, the trio were hungry but had been unable to have lunch.

Chanya said she was willing to get the queue cards and waited for more hours for her turn.

But she asked why officials did not publicly announce or let the public know they were required to undergo such a queue system.

A military official arranging the queue system, who did not want to be named, said many mourners in the lines were upset when people without queue cards cut in front of them.

Officials had to patrol the two-kilometre-long line to ensure that all people waiting in the queue had the required cards.

“The queue cards will be distributed to people. When the quota runs out, we will stop distributing them and let all people with the cards enter the Grand Palace. This coming Saturday, there is a quota for 10,000 people. If the 10,000 queue cards run out, those people who do not get a card can return home without wasting their time waiting in long lines,” the source said.

“This is to ensure that all waiting people have a chance to enter,” he said.

Yesterday afternoon, more than 7,000 people waited in long lines on the field in the scorching sun, he said.

Bangkok officials also planned to set up two more tents for those waiting for queue cards with a combined capacity for 1,800 people, in addition to the 13 small tents with a capacity for 1,300 people, Threedow said.

A mourner suggested that the authorities make it clear to people who are waiting that they need queue cards to enter the Grand Palace.

“It is good that the queue |management has been implemented to prevent a mess among the crowds. However, the authorities should put more effort on public relations to let the people know they need to undergo the queue system. Otherwise, they will come here and return home desperately upset,” 34-year-old businessman Thanapol Wola said.

Thanapol had waited in a long line for five hours before being able to enter the Grand Palace.

Almost 5,000 people have joined the Volunteers for Dad group to provide services to mourners paying homage to His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej at the Grand Palace.

Thammasat University deputy rector Parinya Thewanarumitkul, who acts as director of Volunteers for Dad, said 4,867 people had joined the group in the five days since it was formed.

“We have enough volunteers now,” Parinya said.

He said about 1,900 people joined the group on Saturday, when an estimated 177,000 mourners gathered at Sanam Luang and areas around the Grand Palace to sing the Royal Anthem in honour of the late King.

The volunteers help to distribute food and drink, collect and sort garbage, provide a motorcycle shuttle service, and offer medical treatment.

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Thousands volunteer to clear rubbish as Thais mourn death of King Bhumibol

Source:

Volunteers For Dad

AFP

Reuters

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According to Parinya, rubbish posed a major problem as there was as much as 200 tonnes, including 100,000 foam boxes a day.

He said there was a plan to reduce the amount of garbage, such as providing water-refuelling stations and using recyclable materials such as food boxes made of sugar-cane pulp.

He called on donors to stop bringing food boxes made of Styrofoam. He said the group also had a sufficient supply of bottled water. People can follow updates from the group via its Facebook account “Volunteers for Dad”.

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), Threedow Aphaiwongs, said at least 300 people had donated food yesterday, which was brought to 18 cooking stations.

She said an average of 80,000 people came to Sanam Luang every day, which resulted in 66 tonnes of garbage a day. The spokeswoman said that on Saturday the amount of garbage jumped to 175 tonnes.

She called on mourners to bring food containers to help to reduce the amount of garbage.

Deputy Bangkok Governor Wanwilai Promlakkano called on donors yesterday to bring dried food rather than fresh food.

Read also:

Top boxers trek to Grand Palace to pay last respects

Only 10,000 will be allowed into throne hall each day

NAYPYITAW – Myanmar State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi tried to reassure business leaders that they would not face prosecution under her government at a conference here.

MICC-2 in Nay Pyi Taw hosted the first meeting between Suu Kyi and entrepreneurs since the US lifted economic sanctions. She only invited the top 158 taxpayers as many people wanted to attend the meeting.

Kyaw Win, minister for planning and finance, explained economic and investment policy. Robert Chua, the Singaporean ambassador who represents the diplomatic corps, the governor of the Central Bank of Myanmar Kyaw Kyaw Maung, president of the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry Win Aung, Nang Lang Kham, executive director of the Kanbawza Bank Ltd, and Khin Maung Aye, chairman of the Myanmar Banks Association, made discussions in the meeting.

Suu Kyi admitted that the country had not achieved economic growth that was expected. Firms should advance with a forward-looking policy, she said, while warning that the government would monitor whether businesses were working in their self-interest or in the public’s interest.

She encouraged all employers to co-operate during the political and economic transition. People were familiar with the English word “crony” from previous governments.

There was criticism that the cronies had a close relationship with the government and their dealings were illegal, the state counsellor added.

Suu Kyi asked why there was so little unity of purpose and demanded that tycoons looked beyond their self-interest. She added that people should not be tied down by previous behaviour and look to the future.

The current levels of growth were unsatisfactory and below expectations for the government’s first six months in office, she admitted. But foreign investment would increase when the rule of law was established and qualifications were improved.

She said the meeting was to explain strategy for the next 10 to 20 years as her government’s 12-point economic policy was too general. Myanmar was lucky as many countries wanted to extend a helping hand and they should seize the opportunity and tackle corruption, she said.

Business owner Dr Soe Tun said: “The explanations were general. It is questionable for other sectors as the meeting mainly focused on the banking sector.”

Also attending were Nay Shwe Thway Aung, the grandson of the former senior general Than Shwe, chairman of the parliamentary Legal Affairs and Special Cases Assessment Commission Thura Shwe Mann and Auditor General Maw Than.