4,000 Thais still missing in Japan

[Admin]

4,000 Thais still missing in Japan
By Pongphon Sarnsamak
Nantida Puangthong
The Nation 2011-03-19

Thai authorities are still unable to locate about 4,000 Thais who were living in northeastern Japan when the massive earthquake and tsunami hit last week. Problems with communication systems there have made it hard to check their whereabouts.

"Of 5,000 Thais there, we have found only 8001,000," Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesman Thani Thongphakdi said. He said all those contacted were safe.

Thani also said the number of Thais living in the area could in fact be much higher than 4,000 because at least 6,000 Thais were believed to be living in Japan illegally.

"But we would like to help them too," Thani said.

However, he also pointed out that some Thais might have left Japan without telling the Thai embassy.

Thani said two C130 planes from Thailand would arrive in Japan last night and today to deliver relief items - including those from the Friends in Need of ("Pa") Volunteers Foundation - to disaster victims. After the deliveries, the planes will carry about 240 Thais back to Thailand.

Currently, Thais are advised to defer nonessential trips to Japan.

Because the disasters have caused a radiation leak from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, the Office of Atoms for Peace (OAP) is offering free tests for radioactive exposure to people arriving from Japan.

The tests are available at Suvarnabhumi Airport and OAP headquarters in Bangkok.

Public Health Ministry permanent secretary Dr Paijit Warachit said about 80 of 400 people coming from Japan had sought medical advice at the airport.

Twentyseven people planning travel to Japan have asked for medical advice regarding taking potassium iodide, he said.

Not all will need to take the drug. It is available only for Thai people who will travel to risky areas within 30 kilometres of the stricken plant, he said.

Despite the radiation threat, not every Thai has rushed to return to the homeland. Five Thai monks at Pak Nam Temple in Tokyo intend to stay there to offer moral support to Thais remaining in the country.

The temple, which is just 10 minutes from Narita Airport, has been a centre for distribution of food and relief items.

Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya yesterday donated Bt2 million and blankets to disaster victims in Japan via the Foreign Affairs Ministry.

Thais and private companies have raised funds for people hit by Japan's disasters too.

Meanwhile, the Public Health Ministry is preparing to send a team of psychologists to help shaken Thais there.

The ministry's deputy permanent secretary, Dr Narong Sahamethapat, said a team of psychiatrists and medical workers would travel to Japan today.

He added that a team of doctors who travelled to Japan to provide medical assistance to 30 Thai people living within 55 kilometres of Fukushima nuclear plant were now safe from radiation contamination. However, they will move to Tokyo in the near future.

[boloa]

"Of 5,000 Thais there, we have found only 8,001,000 "

Have they been breeding 

[isanbirder]

I don't think these figures mean very much.  "Have not been located", OK;  "missing", no.

[Admin]

"Of 5,000 Thais there, we have found only 8,001,000 "

Have they been breeding 

.... that how they post it in the news.
I think they meant to write 800-1000 but not sure..

[boloa]

"Of 5,000 Thais there, we have found only 8,001,000 "

Have they been breeding 

.... that how they post it in the news.
I think they meant to write 800-1000 but not sure..

I'm sure your right  lets hope all are found and brought back safe to their families