“Prime minister” chaired the third day of the National Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Command meeting to monitor the nationwide flooding situation

Today (2 October 2026) at 8:00 AM, at the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, Dusit District, Bangkok, Mr. Anutin Charnvirakul Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, chaired the National Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Command (NDPMC) meeting to monitor the situation and provide assistance to flood victims. Also present were Mr. Ekniti Nitithanprapas, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance , Lt. Gen. Adul Boonthamcharoen Minister of Defence , and Mr. Paradorn Prisnanantakul, The minister attached to the prime minister's office, Mr. Polpeerap Suwannachawi,Deputy minister of interior, Mr. Worasit Liengprasit,Deputy minister of interior, Mr. Jetseth Thaiseth, Deputy minister of interior, Gen. Chaiyapruk Duangprapat,The secretary-general of the national security council, Mr. Nirat Pongsitthaworn,The director-general of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation; representatives from the armed forces and relevant agencies; as well as governors from across the country, participated in the meeting via teleconference.

The prime minister opened the meeting by thanking everyone for their importance and participation. He noted that Mr. Ekniti, who is responsible for the flood situation in the central region, and representatives from various agencies were also present to monitor the progress of joint operations and determine effective operational guidelines in response to the rapidly changing situation. He added that the overall situation had improved.

The prime minister further stated that yesterday's meeting provided all agencies with an overview of the situation and prompted urgent action. Integration and mutual support have ensured widespread and comprehensive assistance to affected communities. Meanwhile, teams have been established in all affected areas to provide comprehensive support for assistance. It is crucial to emphasize that only one set of data should be used; avoid multiple sets of information to prevent public confusion. This will allow us all to effectively assess the situation based on the same data, reducing confusion, anxiety, and inaccuracies.

The prime minister further stated that all agencies, including the governors of all provinces participating in this online meeting, should be well-prepared. The Meteorological Department indicates a high risk of heavy rainfall across many areas of the country on October 4-5, 2026. Therefore, comprehensive preparedness measures are essential, particularly regarding personnel, equipment, food, relief supplies, shelter plans, essential goods for the affected population, and contingency plans. Full readiness is necessary to respond effectively to the situation.

The prime Minister concluded that the key agenda items for today's meeting are to follow up on the directives, receive the latest situation updates from the affected areas, jointly assess and integrate operational plans, enhance the efficiency of problem-solving, alleviate public suffering comprehensively, and achieve maximum results. He also noted that this is the third day of the meeting. Therefore, to summarize the assessment of the various situations, I request the Director-General of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation to conduct the meeting and listen to the conclusions of the units assigned to manage the affected areas. I also request their opinions, requests for support, problems, obstacles, and information that can all be used to inform decision-making.

The prime minister concluded by saying that he believes the improved situation is a result of everyone's collaborative efforts in managing the flood situation. However, we must remain prepared because the weather conditions going forward are still unreliable. Therefore, continuous preparedness is needed in case we need to deal with future flooding in other provinces so that we can integrate our efforts and work together to resolve problems quickly.

Following the meeting, the Prime Minister gave an interview regarding the monitoring of the situation and assistance provided to flood victims, stating that according to the Meteorological Department's forecast. Rain is expected to begin forming and moving towards the southern region from October 5, 2026, onwards, and will intensify between October 10 and 12, 2026. Therefore, I have instructed the governors of the southern provinces, from Prachuap Khiri Khan to Narathiwat, especially Hat Yai district, to be fully prepared to cope with the situation, as the intensity and frequency of rainfall in that area have been observed. As for the northern and central regions, the rainfall levels are not yet a cause for concern, which will allow for the smooth running of the IMF World Bank global conference, which Thailand is hosting.

The prime Minister stated that regarding the care of disaster victims, he has instructed all provincial governors to seriously oversee shelters. These shelters must not merely be places to sleep but must be managed to a high standard to encourage people to willingly evacuate from high-risk areas and seek protection. They must be adequately equipped with food, medicine, bedding, soap, toothpaste, and most importantly, clean restrooms.

Regarding management and drainage, the Prime Minister stated that there is integrated cooperation between the Royal Irrigation Department, the military, and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA). The BMA and the Royal Irrigation Department must expedite coordination in draining water to open channels for it to flow into the sea as quickly as possible. Currently, the Royal Thai Navy has deployed approximately 100 water-pushing vessels to accelerate the drainage process.

The prime minister stated that flooding has affected several provinces. Regarding compensation payments for the Khlong Chan flats case, he emphasized that the guidelines of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) should be followed.

He also cautioned the public to rely only on official weather forecasts from the Meteorological Department, government press releases, and the Prime Minister's spokesperson, as he cannot be held responsible for information from independent pages appearing in news feeds.

When asked about the opposition's search for him despite his hard work from morning till night, the prime minister replied that he and his team, along with relevant agencies, the Bangkok governor, the director-general of the Royal Irrigation Department, and the military, meet every morning to address the problems. He requested that the media refrain from asking such questions that could create conflict, as answering them would only lead to a response from the other side. He stressed that everyone should focus on working in the affected areas to help people overcome this disaster as quickly as possible.