Nan Governor Chainarong Wongyai, right, inspects the level of the Nan River beside its embankment in Muang district on Thursday morning. (Screenshot from the Facebook page of the Nan public relations office)
The Interior Ministry reported on Thursday that flood levels in seven provinces in upper Thailand were either stable or decreasing, except in Nan, where floodwaters were rising. Traisuree Taisaranakul, secretary to the interior minister, said that the affected provinces included Chiang Rai, Lampang, Nan, Phayao, Phetchabun, and Phrae in the North, as well as Udon Thani in the Northeast.
Officials were hard at work evacuating flood victims, distributing essential supplies, and assessing the damage. According to Ms. Traisuree, 12,777 families in 541 villages had been impacted by the extensive flooding.
Nan Governor Chainarong Wongyai provided an update, stating that floodwaters in central districts were rising more slowly as rain had ceased, and water levels were starting to decline in the upper districts. Nevertheless, ten districts in Nan were still severely inundated.
In Muang district, the Nan River had reached a depth of 8.25 meters—an alarming 25 centimeters below the district’s embankment. The governor urgently advised residents living near waterways to move their valuables to higher ground and prepare for evacuation, as more deluges from northern areas were on the way.
The Office of National Water Resources (ONWR) issued a stern warning about potential flooding and landslides in 35 provinces across all regions until August 30, due to unrelenting heavy rains.
The Meteorological Department cautioned people in northern and northeastern provinces to brace for heavy to very heavy rains from August 21 to 27, which could trigger flash floods and overflow, particularly near foothills, waterways, and low-lying areas. All ships in the Andaman Sea and the Gulf should proceed with extreme caution in thundershower-prone areas during this period.
This flooding sounds like a consistent problem every year. Why can’t the government come up with a long-term solution?
Exactly! Proper urban planning and infrastructure could mitigate this. Years of neglect are showing!
It’s not just neglect, it’s corruption. Funds for infrastructure are siphoned off.
You might be right. Transparency is sorely lacking.
Easier said than done. These regions are geographically prone to such disasters. Can’t fight nature.
You can mitigate the impact of natural disasters with better planning and response strategies.
Exactly. Human intervention can make a huge difference.
My family is in Chiang Rai, and they’re terrified. We need more immediate support, not just long-term plans.
I’m sorry to hear that. The government’s focus should be on both immediate relief and future prevention.
Relief efforts seem slow. It’s frustrating to see my friends suffer.
It’s very frustrating. They are not even making it to the most affected villages.
The ONWR’s warning seems a bit late. Shouldn’t they have predicted this earlier?
They operate based on meteorological data which can change rapidly. Predicting weather precisely is challenging.
Even so, earlier warnings might have helped people prepare better.
My thoughts exactly. Better safe than sorry.
Why isn’t there more international aid coming in? This is a humanitarian crisis in the making.
Climate change is probably making these floods worse. It’s a wake-up call to address environmental issues.
Agreed. More green initiatives are needed. But, that won’t help the people currently suffering.
Immediate aid and long-term strategies should go hand-in-hand.
My heart goes out to everyone affected. Wish there was more we could do.
You can donate to local NGOs. They are often faster and more efficient than the government.
Donating is a great idea. What are some trustworthy organizations?
Flooding happens. People need to adapt instead of relying entirely on government aid. Build your houses wisely.
Not everyone can afford to relocate or rebuild. Socio-economic factors are at play here.
True, but expecting government intervention every time can’t be sustainable either.
Living in an affected area myself, it’s not about adaptation. It’s survival, and we need all the help we can get.
This is a direct consequence of deforestation. We need more trees to manage water better.
When will the government learn? Building embankments isn’t a permanent solution.
No, but it’s a temporary measure. Larger projects take time and money.
So, should we just keep accepting temporary fixes forever?
Flood insurance should be compulsory in these regions. People need better financial protection.
Insurance can’t replace lives lost or memories washed away. It’s a complex issue.