Chaiyaphum—Merchants at Phukhaew district's fresh market are on high alert after two separate incidents involving counterfeit 1,000-baht notes within a week, resulting in losses of both merchandise and cash. Police have been asked to urgently track down the culprit and take swift action amid growing concern among residents.

On August 10, Chai, a 59-year-old pork sausage vendor at Phukhaew district fresh market, reported being defrauded by a stocky man, approximately 170 centimeters tall with dark reddish skin. The suspect entered the stall to buy pork sausage for 100 baht, then handed over a 1,000-baht note. After Chai delivered the goods and returned 900 baht in change, he examined the banknote closely and discovered it was counterfeit, lacking the watermark of a genuine note. When he turned back to look for the customer, the man had vanished.

The incident left Chai upset and forced him to leave early, having lost both merchandise and 900 baht in change. He then warned other vendors in the market to be vigilant.

Meanwhile, reporter found Wal, a 62-year-old vegetable seller in Olo subdistrict, who revealed she had also fallen victim to a con artist in early August. A man used a fake 1,000-baht note to purchase fresh vegetables worth only 40 baht, and she gave him 960 baht in change. After Wal handed the note to her grandson to buy school supplies, the shop clerk discovered the banknote was abnormal and suspected it was counterfeit. Further verification confirmed it was fake.

Wal acknowledged that with many daily customers and busy cash handling, it is difficult to remember which customer gave each note, allowing scammers to exploit the rush and confusion. She urged all merchants and shops in the area to increase caution when accepting banknotes, especially 1,000-baht notes, and to verify each note before giving change. She also recommended using banknote checking equipment, which takes only seconds and could prevent losses. She called on police to act quickly and apprehend those using counterfeit notes before more residents are harmed.

Phukhaew police station has advised merchants and the public to exercise care when accepting payment, particularly with 1,000-baht notes. All notes should be inspected carefully before accepting and giving change. If a note is suspected of being counterfeit, it should not be spent further, as it may create legal problems. Instead, the note should be kept and reported to police for investigation and proper handling.

Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, chairing the central region flood and drought prevention committee, announced after their first 2569 meeting in Ayutthaya that the government is accelerating unified disaster management by establishing five regional committees covering the north, northeast, central, east, and southern regions. This consolidation aims to centralize command, eliminate redundancy, and respond more quickly to crises.

The central region is critical because it is low-lying terrain that receives water from the north before flowing to the sea, and anchors major agricultural, industrial, community, and tourism sectors. Deputy PM Anutin ordered the creation of real-time flood and drought risk maps integrating data from GISTDA, the National Water Resources Office, the Meteorological Department, the Royal Irrigation Department, and the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation. Provinces will use checklists to prepare in advance by inspecting water gates, installing pumps, clearing waterway obstructions, and preparing water-receiving areas. During emergencies, provinces must establish command centers coordinating military, police, civil, and local forces to prioritize vulnerable populations, while hospitals maintain medical readiness 24/7 and economic and tourism zones implement strict protective measures.

Management of the central region covers 17 provinces and Bangkok, with each watershed supervisor closely monitoring conditions and ensuring all provinces communicate accurate, timely water data through all channels including Cell Broadcast, so the public stays informed but calm and can prepare ahead. The Disaster Prevention Department has 155 flood-response machines and 202 drought-response machines ready to deploy immediately, with staff monitoring and alerting around the clock. Risk data shows eight central provinces with very high flood risk affecting 124 villages and 12 provinces with high risk affecting 533 villages, while two provinces face very high drought risk in 66 villages and three provinces in 105 villages.

PHUKET: Phuket MPs and local stakeholders have renewed calls for greater provincial control over budgets, personnel, infrastructure and public services, as a parliamentary committee examines whether the island needs a new self-governance model.

PHUKET: Phuket police have prosecuted 16 people after raiding eight locations in the latest phase of a crackdown on businesses suspected of using Thai nominees to conceal foreign ownership.

The government has established a 24-hour operations center to address flooding and drought in Thailand's northern region, streamlining bureaucratic procedures and authorizing provincial governors to immediately deploy emergency funds to assist the public. Deputy Prime Minister Yossanan Wongsawat, heading the northern water disaster and drought management committee, has directed all relevant agencies to adopt proactive measures against severe weather conditions including heavy rainfall, flash flooding, flash floods, and drought in certain areas. The effort includes setting up sub-command centers, mobilizing personnel and machinery including water pumps to operate around the clock, with military and regional disaster prevention center support available if resources fall short. Governors of high-risk areas are authorized to use emergency provisional funds for disaster relief without delays from bureaucratic procedure, with emphasis on supporting vulnerable populations. If evacuations become necessary, officials will conduct comprehensive surveys and expedite compensation payments to restore normalcy as quickly as possible. Long-term measures for drought-prone areas include accelerating water resource assessments, securing domestic water reserves, and coordinating with farmers to adjust crop-planting plans.