BANGKOK, Thailand – Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, Phumtham Wechayachai, chaired the second meeting of the National Flood, Storm, and Landslide Relief Operations Center (NSRO) at the Office of the Prime Minister on September 26. The meeting was attended by Anutin Charnvirakul, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, Prasert Jantararuangthong, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Economy and Society, along with other key officials.
During the meeting, Phumtham emphasized the importance of closely monitoring the situation, noting that the current disaster differs from past events due to the combination of heavy rainfall and landslides, creating post-flood complications. He stressed the urgency of clearing mud from drainage pipes before it solidifies into limestone, as some areas are facing mud levels of 1-2 meters deep, which hampers recovery efforts.
He further announced that a team of expert advisors had been assembled, with Plodprasop Suraswadi appointed as a senior advisor and Jirayu Huangsub, the Prime Minister’s advisor, acting as the spokesperson for the relief center to provide daily updates.
Notably, Phumtham highlighted that the current rainfall patterns are concentrated and recurrent in specific areas, which may be a result of climate change. He has tasked the Meteorological Department with conducting an in-depth study of these changes to better predict and prevent future disasters.
On Friday, September 27, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, along with relevant ministers, will travel to Mueang District in Chiang Rai, where floodwaters from the Kok River have caused widespread mud deposits in homes and economic zones. The Prime Minister will also visit Mae Sai District, staying overnight, and will head to Chiang Mai the following morning to assess flood conditions there. In Chiang Rai, a war room meeting will be held to summarize the ongoing relief efforts and challenges in the area, with the Prime Minister directing immediate solutions.
Phumtham added that the NSRO will hold daily meetings at 9:00 a.m. to assess the situation and receive reports from affected areas. Two dedicated task forces have been set up to respond rapidly to the crisis, while efforts to provide compensation to those affected have been delayed due to legal and procedural barriers. The Prime Minister has ordered the government to expedite the compensation process, ensuring it complies with the law while delivering aid quickly to reassure the public that they are not being neglected.
The meeting also approved a recovery plan for Chiang Rai, specifically for Mueang and Mae Sai Districts. In Mueang District, the plan covers 745 households within Chiang Rai Municipality and 6,614 households outside of it, with completion expected by September 29. The recovery in Mae Sai District, divided into five zones, is expected to be completed within 30 days, by October 20. (PRD)
