The first batch of newly-constructed houses have been handed over to villagers of Thailand's southern Ranong province, where a number of residences were shattered in last year's killer waves, local press reported Thursday.

Located in the province's Kapoe district, the 42 new permanent houses were build at a cost of 4.2 million baht (100,000 US dollars), which was funded by state and private agencies and donations.

"Similar housing projects will be implemented in every tsunami-devastated province," Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was quoted by Bangkok Post newspaper as saying.

He added that 500 more houses will be ready in two weeks and another 2,000 in three months.

In Ranong, the government ordered the building of 145 permanent houses for tsunami victims, among which 62 have been allocated to villagers so far.

Meanwhile, the construction of 24 new houses will start on Sireh island off Phuket. The two-storey-houses are expected to be finished in a month.

Already under construction were 79 houses on Lanta island off Krabi and 135 houses on Kho Khao island off Phangnga.

(Xinhua News Agency February 3, 2005)