Disaster Agency Monitors Flooding, Uses Cell Alerts for Riverside Communities
Thailand's disaster agency is monitoring monsoon flooding across the North and Northeast using Cell Broadcast alerts to warn riverside communities, with no major typhoons currently threatening the country.
At 09:25 on August 17, 2025, at Don Muang Air Base, Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation director Theeraphad Katchimat discussed water conditions in the North and Northeast regions. He explained that the monsoon season has begun as announced by the Meteorological Department, prompting multiple alerts based on satellite imagery and weather analysis coordinated with meteorological agencies. No Pacific typhoons have entered Thailand and water levels remain moderate, though flash flooding and elevated Mekong levels are occurring in some areas. The department has deployed water pumps and coordinated with local authorities, with potential impacts in riverside zones. When asked about monitoring repeatedly flooded areas, Katchimat said Cell Broadcast warnings now reach residents faster and at multiple alert levels, with coordination also extending to local radio stations. Regarding how far in advance Cell Broadcast can warn residents, Katchimat explained that satellite weather checks occur daily with 24-hour monitoring shifts, and all agencies analyze conditions—including rainfall amounts and intensity—before issuing alerts to avoid unnecessary public panic and to clarify the severity level in each warning.
