SONGKHLA, Thailand – The Ministry of Education has expanded relief efforts in southern Thailand as severe flooding continues across several provinces. Education Minister Narumon Pinyosinwat has directed vocational colleges nationwide to move into affected communities and provide immediate assistance.
In Songkhla province, five vocational colleges operate field kitchens that prepare more than 2,500 meal boxes each day. These meals are sent to residents in Hat Yai, Rattaphum, Na Thawi, and Phakho, where many households remain stranded in high-risk areas. Three colleges in Surat Thani have also opened kitchens at local evacuation centers to support families displaced by rising water.
The Nakhon Si Thammarat Maritime College has deployed three flat-bottom boats to Songkhla to assist with transport needs. The boats are helping move residents out of dangerous zones and carry essential supplies into neighborhoods that ground vehicles can no longer reach.
If conditions in Rattaphum improve by 26 November, the ministry plans to open “Fix It Centers” operated by colleges in Songkhla and Surat Thani. These centers will provide free repairs for damaged appliances, agricultural tools, motorcycles, and other belongings as residents begin returning home.
Officials are continuing to track developments closely while teams on the ground work long hours to ease the strain on communities throughout the region. (NNT)
