More rainfall set to appear, raising flood risk
The development of a national center to check the country’s flood situation and two new organizations to coordinate the country’s flood reaction and post-flood recovery efforts has been mandated by Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra.
The PM stated in a statement on her X profile that she will convene a meeting to set up a committee to oversee formal disaster response efforts, and another council to monitor the storm and flood situation.
The PM did request state authorities to attend the meeting, according to a cause in Government House, where she intends to explore ways to better handle the situation. The PM may also serve as the president of the storm victim rescue center, according to the source.
Since Aug 16, about 130, 000 people have been affected by storms in the North, Northeast and elements of the Central Plains, according to Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation.
Damaged counties include Chiang Rai, Mae Hong Son, Nan, Tak, Sukhothai, Phitsanulok, Phetchabun, Nong Khai, Loei, Ang Thong, Ayutthaya, and Prachin Buri.
According to the Meteorological Department, Hydro-Informatics Institute, and Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency, the condition is expected to worsen more as more rain is forecast over the next two days, worsening the flood and threat of landslides in afflicted regions.
Mr Paetongtarn even took the opportunity to thank volunteers, as well as govt- and non-government save staff who are working to help flood victims across the country.
” I want to congratulate all of those state and deliberate rescue teams who are doing everything in their power to assist both people and individuals. They all deserve praise for their dedication”, she said in the X article.
More disaster response and post-flood treatment programs will be discussed at Tuesday’s government meeting, she said.
In another creation, Anutin Charnvirakul, the deputy prime minister and internal minister, on Sunday presided over a meeting of the National Disaster Management Command, where he received updates on the most recent flooding to occur in the nation’s 76 regions.
Following the meeting, Mr. Anutin stated that various regions in the North, Northeast, and Central Plains were also experiencing significant flooding. Almost all of the governors from 76 counties were present.
Counties located along the Mekong River in the Northeast in particular, are faced with worsening flood, as water levels along the creek continue to rise, he said.
Mr. Anutin even urged counties that have run out of money to cover their crisis response not to stifle the use of alternative funds as much as possible to fund their rescue operations.
” The post-flood healing work does involve a great deal of funding”, he said.
He said the government will direct regional operational organizations to perform faster surveys in the affected areas to determine the amount of damage and economic aid required to be distributed to the flood victims.
Mr Anutin also said the Ministry of Interior, together with the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, have set up a battle area to monitor the situation across the country, but officials can deliver the required support as quickly as possible.
The battle place could even get in for requests for assistance from storm patients, said Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation Minister Supamas Isarabhakdi.
People who are affected by storms and want help are urged to send their request to the war room through the 1784 line, through Line by adding @1784DDPM, or the” Thai Disaster Alert” mobile app, she said.
Meanwhile, the Office of the National Water Resources ( ONWR ) announced that Sukhothai’s forward command for flood management has been moved to Ayutthaya in order to better track the situation in the Central Plains.
According to Phaithun Kengkanchan, deputy secretary-general of the ONWR, the forward command is focused on the volume of excess water coming from the upper regions of Thailand to the Central Plains and other related weather events that may contribute to the overall flooding situation in the Central Plains.