According to the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, floods are still reported in five northern Thailand provinces as of Sunday: Chiang Rai, Nan, Phayao, Phetchabun, and Phrae.
Between August 16 and 22, floods killed 22 people, 13 of them were in Phuket. Flooding and landslides caused by heavy rains have impacted 22 districts, displacing 30,807 households nationally.
To combat severe flooding, Caretaker Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai has proposed restoring Yingluck Shinawatra’s water management mega-project at a cost of six trillion baht.
The budget for the mega-project in 2011 was 2 to 3 trillion baht. Now, Mr. Phumtham thinks it will cost between $5 and $6 trillion.
He also said that the issue is a national concern that needs a lot of work. He said that the project to manage the water would be a top concern for Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra‘s new government.
He made the remarks during a trip to the northern province of Nan, where he assessed flood relief efforts and gave supplies to flood victims.
Nan province received heavy rain from August 19 to 21, causing floods, flash floods, and mudslides in many areas. People suffered, especially in the agricultural, fishery, and cattle sectors. If there is no rain, the situation should be back to normal within five to seven days.
Landslides and floods have damaged 21,971 houses in northern Thailand, according to the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation.
There have been 5,381 houses in 11 districts of Chiang Rai and 3,500 homes in Phayao Province that have been seriously affected by the flooding.
The worst affected province in Thailand is Nan, with 10,157 homes flooded. The next worst, with 383 homes inundated, are five districts in northern Thailand’s Phrae.
Flooding in Northern Thailand August 25, 2024
Geoff Thomas is an award winning journalist known for his sharp insights and no-nonsense reporting style. Over the years he has worked for Reuters and the Canadian Press covering everything from political scandals to human interest stories. He brings a clear and direct approach to his work.
