People through flood waters along a street following heavy rain in Thailand's southern province of Narathiwat on November 28, 2024. Flooding triggered by three days of heavy rain has killed one person and displaced thousands in southern Thailand, with more days of rain forecast, authorities said on November 28. - AFP
BANGKOK (Bernama): Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has ordered swift and comprehensive flood relief measures for Southern Thailand, where severe flooding has caused widespread devastation.
Government spokesperson Jirayu Houngsub said the prime minister expressed deep concern for those affected by the floods, particularly in the heavily impacted provinces of Yala, Pattani, Narathiwat and Songkhla.
"Prime Minister Paetongtarn has directed Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and a team from the Interior Ministry to visit Narathiwat and oversee relief efforts on the ground,” Jirayu said in a statement on Friday.
Earlier, Paetongtarn, who was in Chiang Mai to inspect government's projects, chaired a mobile Cabinet meeting.
Jirayu added that the Defence Ministry has instructed the Southern Border Provinces Administrative Centre (SBPAC) to act as the forward operational unit of the Government Disaster Coordination Centre (GDCC) in the region, ensuring a seamless collaboration with the central command for effective relief efforts.
He also noted that the Public Health Ministry has deployed medical teams to all affected areas to provide essential healthcare, while the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) and the Office of the Prime Minister are expediting financial assistance for the victims.
According to the DDPM, the floods in seven southern provinces - Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Songkhla, Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat and Satun - have affected 2,831 villages and the lives of 240,007 households.
In the four most severely affected provinces - Yala, Pattani, Narathiwat and Songkhla - authorities have evacuated 4,380 residents to 91 temporary shelters.
The DDPM said timely alerts in high-risk areas allowed authorities to evacuate vulnerable groups efficiently, while relief and recovery efforts will continue until the situation stabilises. - Bernama
