Thailand Drains 6 Million Cubic Metres to Help Flood Victims
Thailand’s Natural Resources and Environment Minister ordered the Water Resources Department to pump out floodwater, resulting in over 6.1 million cubic metres drained and aid to more than 37,000 households. The effort protected about 51,000 rai of farmland and supported hospitals in Prachin Buri and Sing Buri. Officials deployed 47 pumps and over 100 staff across multiple provinces to restore normal conditions.
Natural Resources and Environment Minister Santi Chumphen has ordered the Water Resources Department to intensify flood‑response efforts. On 1 October 2069, Minister Santi Chumphen expressed concern for people affected by flooding and urged the department to follow the “One Natural Resources and Environment” approach, mobilising all resources to help the public fully, pump out stagnant water, and restore normal conditions as quickly as possible, stressing that every unit must reach troubled areas and solve problems precisely.
Water Resources Department Director‑General Teerachun Boonsit received the order and instructed offices 1‑11 to raise 24‑hour water‑level monitoring and readiness, preparing machinery, tools and staff for immediate deployment, especially offices 1, 2, 5, 6, 7 and 9, which mobilised 47 pumps ranging from 10 to 30 inches in diameter together with over 100 officers to drain water and relieve suffering in at‑risk areas.
Operations in those offices covered several provinces, pumping a total of 6,118,280 cubic metres of water: offices 1, 2, 5 and 9 in Pathum Thani, Uthai Thani, Phetchabun, Lop Buri, Nakhon Sawan, Saraburi, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Sing Buri and Samut Prakan accounted for 5,691,720 cubic metres; office 6 in Prachin Buri, Chon Buri, Chanthaburi and Sa Kaeo contributed 197,600 cubic metres; office 7 in Nakhon Pathom, Suphan Buri and Ratchaburi contributed 228,960 cubic metres, especially in Nakhon Chai Si, Don Chedi, Bang Pla Ma, Mueang Ratchaburi, Bang Phae and Pho Thong. The effort eased distress for more than 37,000 households, or nearly 167,000 people, and reduced damage to agricultural land and rice paddies by almost 51,000 rai.
At the same time, the Minister gave priority to hospitals and public service sites, installing pumps to assist Phra Yai Abhaya Phubet Hospital in Prachin Buri, which serves over 3,000 people daily, and preparing support for In Buri Hospital in Sing Buri, which serves over 500 people daily, to drain water quickly and lessen the impact on patients, medical staff and those needing care, because “patients cannot wait; help must reach the site as fast as possible.”
The Water Resources Department, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, pledged to continue monitoring, draining and rehabilitating affected areas in close coordination with provinces and local administrations, to deliver swift assistance, minimise losses and return land to normal use as soon as possible, under the slogan “One Natural Resources and Environment – rushing to help, never abandoning the public” until flood conditions return to normal.
