Deputy PM Pledges Flood Readiness, Sustainable Solutions for South

Deputy Prime Minister Songsak Thongsri affirmed the government has measures ready to handle Southern floods, including relief efforts and finding additional water retention areas, while learning lessons for sustainable flood and drought solutions. He emphasized urgent public care to minimize damage. At 10:00 AM on October 29, 2026 at Government House, Deputy PM Songsak Thongsri addressed the Southern flood situation, stating today's water warnings aim to reassure the public. He confirmed the government has prepared measures, situation forecasting, and officials ready with relief operations, aiming for swift public assistance to minimize damage. These are intentional government measures. However, when disasters strike, natural events cannot be predicted. Asked about the current Southern situation, he affirmed the government is monitoring closely. When incidents occur, officials move in to assist and provide relief, with personnel deployed to assess conditions faster. Yet the South already faces worrying recurring events. Each year, rains from the North and Northeast eventually end up in the South. As supervisor of the Office of National Water Resources (ONWR), he works to extract lessons from the past for sustainable solutions. The core problem is insufficient water retention areas, most of which are private land. ONWR has mapped retention plans for each location to handle excess water, which would resolve both flooding and drought sustainably. When asked whether the Prime Minister emphasized budget for the National Disaster Insurance Fund, Songsak replied that the Cabinet meeting stressed water retention areas, while budget matters require sourcing funds by reallocating remaining budgets from various sections.