The Ministry of Commerce is accelerating aid for flood victims in northern Thailand by instructing provincial commerce offices to strictly monitor essential consumer goods, forbidding hoarding or opportunistic price hikes.
Lieutenant Colonel Jakkra Yodmanee, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce, revealed that due to flooding, flash floods, and landslides in Nan province—especially in the districts of Pua, Tha Wang Pha, Wiang Sa, Phu Phiang, Santikhiri,
and Mueang Nan—over 4,500 households have been affected. In Phayao province, overflow and flash floods in Pong district have impacted homes and transportation routes across multiple areas. The situation still requires close monitoring.
Ms. Supachai Suthamphan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce, expressed concern for those affected by the floods and ordered the Department of Internal Trade and provincial commerce offices to urgently provide full support and relief. Coordination with relevant agencies and sectors is underway to gather essential items, food, and drinking water for delivery to affected communities.
The Ministry of Commerce has instructed provincial commerce offices to closely monitor the situation, support administrative efforts to assist citizens, and survey the demand for essential goods to coordinate timely procurement and distribution. They also emphasized that all provincial commerce offices must regulate the quantity and prices of essential consumer goods, especially drinking water, dry food, and general supplies, ensuring sufficient availability. Traders are strictly prohibited from price gouging, hoarding, or refusing sales.
Other areas at risk of flash floods, flash floods, and short-term flooding such as Sukhothai, Mae Hong Son, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Lamphun, Lampang, Phrae, Nan, Tak, Phetchabun, Loei, Bueng Kan, Nong Bua Lamphu, Udon Thani, Sakon Nakhon, Nakhon Phanom, Maha Sarakham, Mukdahan, Amnat Charoen, Kanchanaburi, Nakhon Nayok, Chanthaburi, and Trat are under orders from the Ministry of Commerce for provincial offices to continuously monitor and report the situation and be ready to assist residents immediately if affected.
If citizens experience unfair pricing or product quantity issues, they can file complaints via the Department of Internal Trade hotline at 1569 or through provincial commerce offices nationwide.
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