Government Directs Relief Efforts Amid Southern Rains and Cold Wave

PRESS RELEASE:

Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, serving as Director of the Flood, Storm, and Landslide Relief Operations Center, has directed relevant agencies to assess the damage caused by recent heavy rains in southern Thailand and prepare for further rainfall anticipated between January 15 and 17.

The directive follows reports of light rain in Songkhla and Phatthalung provinces, with moderate rain forecasted later this week for southern provinces. Meanwhile, the North and Northeast regions are experiencing cold weather, with temperatures dropping by 2–4 °C in the North and 1–2 °C in the Northeast. A second wave of cold air, expected from January 16 to 18, is projected to sustain cool conditions through the end of the month.

According to the center’s deputy spokesperson, Sasikarn Wattanachan, relief measures currently underway include financial aid for flood-affected households, with 9,000 baht allocated per household. To date, 3.75 billion baht has been distributed to 416,793 households. An additional 50,391 households in Yala and Phatthalung provinces are scheduled to receive assistance by January 13 or 14. Flood victims who have not yet filed claims must do so by January 15, either online or at local administrative offices.

The center is collaborating with the Thai Meteorological Department, Royal Irrigation Department, and the National Water Resources Office (ONWR) to prepare for the dry season. Water management plans are being developed to ensure adequate supplies for household use and agricultural activities, with a focus on efficient resource distribution in affected areas. The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation is expediting the verification of financial aid applications to ensure timely disbursement.

The preceding is a press release from the Thai Government PR Department.

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Goongnang Suksawat
Goong Nang is a News Translator who has worked professionally for multiple news organizations in Thailand for many years and has worked with The Pattaya News for five years. Specializes primarily in local news for Phuket, Pattaya, and also some national news, with emphasis on translation between Thai to English and working as an intermediary between reporters and English-speaking writers. Originally from Nakhon Si Thammarat, but lives in Phuket and Krabi except when commuting between the three.