December 2, 2017, Prime Minister Gen. Prayut Chan-o-cha expressed concern over flood situation in the Southern part of Thailand as he was reported that 9 provinces, that is, Phattalung, Trang, Nakhon Si THammarat, Pattani, Songkhla, Narathiwat, Yala, Surat Thani, and Satun, have been inundated since November 25, 2017 from unceasing rainfall. A total of 84 districts and 161,266 households have already been affected.
The Prime Minister ordered Ministry of Interior to direct all affected provinces to start exploring on people’s plights and damages (roads, electricity, water), and rush in tackling immediate problems to urgently alleviate the situation.
He also enjoined all concerned agencies, i.e., provincial disaster prevention and mitigation units, military, local administrations, etc., to integrate their operations in order to provide reliefs in an efficient manner in accordance with the set incident action plan, while focusing on the access to affected victims. Relief bags have also been distributed, and temporary shelters have been set up in all affected provinces.
Provincial disaster prevention and mitigation units have rushed in providing the public with disaster-relief machineries, tents, drinking-water mobile units, mobile electrical generators, mobile toilets, and boats. More water pumps and flow thrusters have been installed to release more volumes of overflow from the inundated areas.
Even though reduced precipitation has been forecasted, heavy rainfall will be continued in certain parts of the South, so residents of flood-prone areas are urged to remain alert and take precaution of flash flood and immediate inundation. The government can be contacted 24/7 at emergency hotline 1784 for any emergency or help.