BANGKOK, Thailand – The government has directed northern provinces to establish 24-hour incident command centers and allocate emergency funds for immediate use in areas at high risk of floods or drought. Deputy Government Spokesperson Patdarasm Thongsaluaykorn stated that Deputy Prime Minister Yodchanan Wongsawat, chair of the Northern Region Flood and Drought Prevention and Response Committee, has instructed agencies to take a proactive approach in response to severe weather fluctuations.
Following assessments by the Thai Meteorological Department, the Deputy Prime Minister instructed all northern provinces to establish sub-command centers and keep personnel, heavy machinery, and water pumps on 24-hour standby. If local resources are insufficient, military forces and regional Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) units will be deployed immediately as reinforcements. To ensure prompt response, the government has released emergency advance funds, enabling provincial governors to access budgets immediately when high-risk situations arise. Authorities have been instructed that administrative procedures must not delay public assistance and must prioritize vulnerable groups during evacuations.
In drought-prone areas, officials have been directed to assess water reserves, secure water supplies for public use, and advise farmers on adjusting cultivation plans. The Deputy Spokesperson added that after any floods, authorities must expedite damage assessments and promptly distribute financial compensation to help affected citizens resume normal life as quickly as possible. (NNT)
