Thailand Controls Northeast Floods, Braces for Heavy Southern Rain
Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said flood conditions in the northeastern river basins are under control but peripheral areas still need urgent drainage. He warned of heavy rain across the south next week and ordered provincial governors and the Fourth Army Region to prepare disaster response plans, including standard evacuation centres. The government also said it is fast-tracking national insurance payouts for 30 million at-risk households and working to drain standing water in flood-hit areas to prevent disease.
Speaking after a video conference with the National Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Command Center in Bangkok, Anutin said the northeastern basins are currently manageable, but the surrounding peripheral zones still face significant flooding and need the maximum possible drainage. He noted that he would travel to Prachinburi later that afternoon because standing water there remains a problem, and that stagnant water can quickly become unsanitary after a few days. Regarding national insurance, he said the government is working to ensure that 30 million households in risk areas receive automatic compensation when disasters occur, with the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation coordinating directly with insurers. Anutin added that he meets daily on the situation, and that the government is preparing for heavy rains forecast for the southern provinces next week, instructing provincial governors, the Fourth Army Region and all relevant agencies to ready evacuation plans and set up standard shelters to keep evacuees safe and comfortable.
