CHIANG MAI, Thailand – Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior Anutin Charnvirakul visited Chiang Mai on October 5 to assess the flood situation and oversee relief efforts in the capital district. Accompanied by senior officials from the Ministry of the Interior, he was briefed on the flooding by Chiang Mai Governor Nirat Pongsitthithaworn. The team then visited Wing 41 of the Royal Thai Air Force to assess the damage and proceeded to the Region 5 Provincial Police Headquarters to support ongoing relief operations.
During his visit, the interior minister assisted in distributing survival kits and providing aid to bedridden patients affected by the floods. Efforts focused on ensuring the safety and well-being of residents displaced or impacted by the severe flooding. While most residents have been successfully evacuated, some have chosen to remain in their homes and receive food and supplies from local authorities.
Water levels in some areas have risen above five meters, surpassing the banks of the Ping River. The Royal Irrigation Department and other agencies have deployed water pumps to expedite drainage, with officials estimating that the situation will stabilize within the next 3–5 days.
Anutin reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting affected residents and commended the resilience and cooperation shown by local communities. Authorities remain focused on ensuring the safety of those in the affected areas’ safety as efforts continue to control the flooding. (NNT)