PM to talk flood mitigation at Asean summit in Laos

Flood issues will be one of the issues being discussed at this week’s Asean Summit in Laos, according to Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra.

Expressing her fears over extreme flooding affecting the northwestern region on Monday, she said the matter, alongside financial assistance, opportunities and regional security, will be addressed from Oct 8–11 in Vientiane. Myanmar, which said it would work with the country to handle the flood topic, was the subject of Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa’s declaration.

When Chiang Mai, which has experienced the worst flood in years, was questioned about any area planning changes by the government. A long-term management program will be discussed once the emergency condition subsides.

She said she would ask the government to come up with long-term liquid management ideas, stressing that the authorities must commit to them if these efforts take longer than ten years to come to fruition.

Ms. Paetongtarn tempered her fears about extreme flooding in the northern regions by claiming that the Royal Irrigation Department had assured her of water retention capacity. She claimed that while there are still chances of flooding in the North, the situation wo n’t be as severe as it is now.

However, City Hall issued a Monday warning to residents living along the Chao Phraya River to residents who had no lasting obstacles to get ready for flooding second year.

People in flood-prone areas should move their belongings to higher ground and monitor the river’s water levels from October 14 to October 23, according to the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration ( BMA ).

As more liquid was discharged from the Chao Phraya Dam, downstream of Bangkok, in Chai Nat, high tides would increase the flood risk.

The BMA did not name the state’s flood-prone places outside the slope area. Data from 2022 showed these locations may include elements of Dusit, Phra Nakhon, Samphanthawong, Bang Kholaem, Yanawa, Bangkok Noi, and Klong San regions.

Aekvarunyoo Amrapala, a spokesman for BMA, predicted that this week’s heavy rain and thunderstorms may cause the Chao Phraya River to surge even further.

The rain-swollen Ping River, which is only currently draining out of Chiang Mai, has caused significant flood. In Nakhon Sawan, the Ping and three various rivers form the Chao Phraya.