Deputy PM Defends Government, Dismisses Flood Warnings as Fake News
Deputy PM Songkitti Tungsri dismissed social media flood warnings for Bangkok and eastern Thailand as unverified claims, stating the Thai Meteorological Department forecasts only moderate rain through September 26 with no crisis expected.
At a Government House press conference on September 23, Deputy Prime Minister Songkitti Tungsri responded to social media posts warning of major flooding in Bangkok and the eastern region, saying the claims lacked proper verification from their sources. He emphasized that the Thai Meteorological Department is the official body for weather assessment and flood warnings, and that rain is forecast for the northern, northeastern, and central regions between September 24-26, but the data does not suggest cause for alarm or a crisis-level situation. All government agencies have prepared preventive measures and are ready to respond.
Songkitti explained that the Digital Economy and Society Ministry has monitoring equipment across various areas and is expanding coverage to provide accurate and timely data for public alerts. Government agencies are preparing personnel and equipment to support residents if evacuation becomes necessary. He noted that the National Water Resources Committee discussed the flood warnings at its September 22 meeting and viewed them as pressure tactics, reiterating that the government has containment plans in place.
"Today there are many news stories, not just about water but also about El Niño and future drought risks, which we are preparing for on both fronts," Songkitti said. "We urge the public to think critically about social media news because we cannot control who posts what. We have data showing heavy rain in some areas during this period, but not at the scale some pages claim. The government is in control."
When asked about water storage capacity, Songkitti said the National Water Resources Office has clarified that each reservoir still has available storage space. The focus today is on creating additional water retention areas and fixing canals to store excess runoff in each watershed. For Bangkok residents, the government will manage Chao Phraya discharge at controlled levels to prevent public impact.
Regarding the national disaster insurance scheme, Songkitti said coverage will include flooding, storms, and earthquakes under a premium of over 1.5 billion baht, effective October 1. Compensation will be paid within 15 days, compared to the previous system which involved multiple criteria. The scheme reduces the payout sum from the previous nearly 40 billion baht, reflecting careful stewardship of taxpayer funds.
