Defence Minister Orders Military Flood Response Round-the-Clock
Thailand's Defence Minister ordered the military to mobilize 10,000 personnel and 1,000 vehicles nationwide for round-the-clock flood relief operations, with plans to support recovery efforts once waters recede.
On 26 September 2026, Defence Minister General Adulyadej Boonthammachareun ordered all military units nationwide to mobilize fully to assist people affected by severe rainfall and flooding with all available capacity. Currently, over 10,000 personnel are operating around the clock, spread across multiple critical areas nationwide, with approximately 1,000 trucks and support vehicles to continuously aid affected communities and local agencies.
The Defence Minister stated that he has ordered all unit commanders to closely monitor the situation and urgently reach disaster zones to provide rapid assistance to the public. The Defence Ministry and armed forces are ready to support the government in all aspects as requested to alleviate suffering and reduce the impact of the heavy rain and flooding on people.
Simultaneously, orders have been issued for all units to prepare for recovery efforts once the situation subsides, to support the government and relevant agencies in rehabilitating affected areas, alleviating hardship, and enabling people to return to normal life as quickly as possible. The working guideline emphasises: "During the crisis, we must help in time; after the water recedes, we must help people get back on their feet as fast as possible."
Reporters noted that General Adulyadej, along with Major General Sithichak Rompodchi, commander of the 11th Military Circle, and other senior officers, personally visited flood-affected areas on military trucks to assess conditions and understand local problems. During their field visit, they assisted stranded residents by providing rides to their destinations, with many people requesting help and boarding official vehicles to facilitate travel amid the flooding.
