PRESS RELEASE:
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has canceled her scheduled commitment to personally visit flood-affected areas in Thailand’s southern provinces. Upon returning from the Thailand-Malaysia Leaders’ Summit, the premier received updates from the National Disaster Management Center regarding severe flooding in Surat Thani and Nakhon Si Thammarat.
During her visit today (Dec 17), the Prime Minister will meet with officials from key ministries, including Defense, Interior, and Public Health, as well as civilian volunteers working on the ground. The visit will focus on coordinating relief efforts, refining recovery plans, and distributing financial aid tailored to local needs.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Anutin Charnvirakul is also traveling to the region to oversee relief operations. The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) has reported casualties and extensive disruption in affected areas. Anutin and senior ministry officials are addressing challenges faced on-site while ensuring coordinated efforts to prioritize resident safety and accelerate aid delivery.
As of December 17, the DDPM confirmed ongoing flooding across six southern provinces, including Chumphon, Ranong, Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Trang, and Phatthalung. The flooding has impacted 54 districts, 339 sub-districts, and 2,676 villages, impacting over 161,000 households.
The Southern Meteorological Center warned that heavy to very heavy rains, driven by a strong northeast monsoon over the Gulf of Thailand and southern regions, will continue throughout the day. Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phatthalung, Songkhla, Pattani, Yala, and Narathiwat continue to face risks of flash floods, overflowing rivers, and landslides, particularly in hilly and low-lying areas.
The Water Resource Management Subcommittee, led by Dr. Surasi Kittimonthon, recently convened to address the situation and monitor reservoirs nearing capacity. Reservoirs under surveillance include Khlong Kathun and Khlong Din Daeng in Nakhon Si Thammarat, Khlong Pa Bon and Khlong Hua Chang in Phatthalung, and Khlong Suan Nang in Surat Thani. Authorities have adjusted water management plans to minimize downstream impacts.
In addition, Ratchaprapha Dam in Surat Thani has suspended water discharge until December 26 to alleviate flooding, while Bang Lang Dam in Yala, currently at 83% capacity, maintains a controlled discharge of 18 million cubic meters per day. Locally managed reservoirs are also undergoing inspections to ensure operational safety.
Weather monitoring systems predict a reduction in rainfall between December 18 and 22, though total precipitation for December and January is expected to remain above average. The committee acknowledged inefficiencies in flood warning mechanisms and is working to enhance early warning systems. Findings from this situation will be presented to the National Water Resource Committee to improve future emergency responses.
The preceding is a press release from the Thai Government PR Department.
