Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport Pipat Ratchakitprakarn visited Thepha district in Songkhla province, ordering urgent action to resolve coastal erosion threatening Highway 43, the main route to the southern border. He also inspected Thepha Hospital to coordinate improvements for emergency patient transport.
On 30 August 2026 at 09:30, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport Pipat Ratchakitprakarn, accompanied by senior officials including Songkhla Governor Rattasat Chidchu, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Transport Jirapong Thepphitak, Director-General of the Department of Highways Piyapong Jiwatnakulpaisan, and local representatives, visited Thepha district, Songkhla. The visit aimed to monitor efforts to address and prevent coastal erosion at rest areas along Highway 43, and to inspect Thepha Hospital to hear about flood situations and discuss solutions to improve residents' access to medical services.
At the first site near a rest area on Highway 43, ongoing coastal erosion was observed. Local data shows certain shoreline areas have receded over 100 meters in the past 20 years, averaging about five meters per year. Approximately 500 meters of erosion-prone shoreline require urgent monitoring, especially during monsoon seasons when strong waves intensify the erosion.
Pipat explained that Highway 43 is a vital transportation infrastructure, serving as a "main artery" connecting Songkhla, Pattani, Yala, and Narathiwat provinces. If erosion advances toward the roadway, it could threaten traffic lanes and jeopardize public safety in the future.
However, efforts to address the problem face challenges due to land ownership and jurisdiction issues, as parts of the area overlap with maritime zones under the Marine Department’s responsibility, while others are privately owned. Initially, Pipat instructed the Department of Highways, Marine Department, and Songkhla provincial authorities to coordinate closely to reach a joint conclusion on construction methods, jurisdiction, and budget. The goal is to implement permanent protective measures without affecting adjacent areas. In the short term, large rocks have already been placed to reinforce vulnerable points.
Pipat and his team then visited Thepha Hospital to follow up on flood impacts during 2024–2025 and to listen to healthcare needs. Songkhla’s Provincial Public Health Doctor and the hospital director provided information.
Currently, Thepha Hospital has 72 beds and serves as a frontline medical facility for residents of Thepha, Saba Yoi districts, and nearby provinces. Services include general treatment, physical therapy, dialysis, and dentistry. The hospital proposed a budget of about 35 million baht to develop its buildings and improve patient service areas. Pipat requested the hospital to detail urgent budget needs so relevant agencies can coordinate support.
Additionally, the team examined traffic problems near the hospital, where limited entry and exit routes and congestion hinder emergency ambulance movement. Pipat assigned the Department of Highways and Department of Rural Roads to survey the area for expanding traffic lanes to facilitate faster ambulance access.
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