SONGKHLA, Thailand – Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn has ordered transport agencies to accelerate measures to protect Highway 43 in Thepha district from coastal erosion, warning that the damage could eventually threaten a key road link to Thailand’s southern border provinces. Phiphat inspected the eroded coastline near a highway rest area in Thepha and later visited Thepha Hospital to assess the impact of flooding, public health needs and transport problems affecting access to the hospital.
At the first site, officials reported that parts of the coastline have retreated by more than 100 metres over the past 20 years, an average of about five metres a year. About 500 metres of coastline is considered at risk and requires monitoring and preventive measures, particularly during the rainy season when strong waves and winds can accelerate erosion.
Phiphat said the loss of coastal land could threaten transport infrastructure because Highway 43 is a major route linking Songkhla with Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat. If erosion continues toward the highway, it could eventually affect traffic lanes and disrupt travel, he said, stressing that preventive measures should be taken before damage becomes more serious and more expensive to repair. Discussions with local agencies found that work is complicated by land ownership and jurisdiction issues. Some areas overlap with waters under the responsibility of the Marine Department, while other sections involve privately owned land, preventing construction of a continuous coastal protection system.
The Marine Department is being consulted on suitable protection measures, including arrangements around the port and affected coastal areas. In the short term, rocks have been placed at some locations to reduce damage from waves and strong winds. Phiphat instructed the Department of Highways and other agencies to work with Songkhla authorities and the Marine Department to settle the construction design, areas of responsibility and budget requirements, with priority given to protecting Highway 43 and public safety. He also stressed that the coastal erosion problem must be addressed systematically rather than through isolated projects that could shift the problem to neighboring areas.
Phiphat then visited Thepha Hospital to assess the effects of flooding, listen to concerns from medical staff and examine transport access to the facility. Officials reported that flooding during 2024 and 2025 affected several healthcare facilities in Songkhla, with damage assessments submitted to the Ministry of Public Health for budget assistance.
Thepha Hospital currently has about 72 beds and serves residents of Thepha and Saba Yoi districts, as well as patients from Thailand’s southern border provinces. Its services include general treatment, rehabilitation, dialysis and dental care. The hospital has requested about 35 million baht to develop buildings and patient and rehabilitation facilities to increase its capacity to serve the local population.
Phiphat asked the hospital to provide detailed information on damage and funding requirements, separating urgent needs from longer-term development plans so that government agencies can consider assistance based on actual priorities, particularly measures directly affecting patient care and safety. He also reviewed traffic problems outside the hospital after being told that limited road capacity and congestion at certain times can hinder ambulances. Transport agencies were instructed to examine the site and assess the possibility of widening or adding traffic lanes to allow ambulances and other vehicles to enter and leave the hospital more quickly.
Phiphat said the two sites were connected by the same priority: infrastructure must allow people to travel safely and access essential services. Highway 43 must remain a reliable route to Thailand’s southern border provinces, while roads leading to hospitals must allow ambulances to reach patients quickly, particularly during emergencies and disasters, he said.
