BANGKOK, 22 April 2012 – The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) is not worried about the drought problem Thailand has been facing. Instead, it is more concerned about the possibilities of flash floods in some areas.
DDPM Director-General Viboon Sanguanpong said that it has been approximately a month since the drought situation has hit Thailand.
So far, more than 25,000 villages in 42 provinces have officially been declared drought-hit areas.
Mr. Viboon stated that six provinces, including Khon Kaen, Chiang Rai, Nakhon Phanom, Petchaburi, Yasothon and Si Sa Ket are the hardest-hit areas, with more than 100,000 farmers suffering the annual disaster.
However, he has assured that all involved state and private agencies have been lending all necessary help to those in need, as the government has called for .
The DDPM Chief is positive that the situation will improve soon. He said that the arrival of the cold weather front from China is hitting the hot air mass in Thailand, and rain is now forecast in many parts of the country.
However, Mr. Viboon said that all DDPM offices have been instructed to closely monitor weather updates from the Meteorological Department and to watch out for possible flash flood after more than 5,000 people in Krabi were affected by heavy rain and flood from the mountain.
