Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Tuesday said that the western portion of Bangkok could remain under water until next year.
“I don’t want the flood situation to extend into next year because I want to see Thai people happy, but in principle I’m not confident about the situation in west of Bangkok,” she said, according to the Bangkok Post.
The news comes as floodwaters receded in central Bangkok but evacuation orders continue for outer districts, according to Reuters.
The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation said that as of Tuesday 562 people have been killed and 22 of Thailand’s 77 provinces are affected by flooding.
The Thai government said that it is considering giving around 5,000 baht ($162) to residents who have been affected by floods for more than seven days, according to the Post.
Yingluck told the newspaper that her administration is investigating allegations of corruption regarding relief efforts. “We'll have to be patient, but we’re ready to prove and provide the information,” she said.
