Deputy Minister of the Interior Je Setth led the C-MEX26 drill simulating a flood scenario in Songkhla, elevating inter-agency integration from early warning, population evacuation, to shelter establishment, underscoring that disaster management must be a national priority in Thailand.
At 09:30 on 2 July 2026, at Meeting Room 1, Building 3, 5th floor, Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, Mr. Je Setth Thaisetth, Deputy Minister of the Interior, chaired the 2026 Crisis Management Exercise (C-MEX26) simulating flooding in Songkhla province. The exercise aimed to test the preparedness of all agencies in managing disasters, enhance operational integration, and build capabilities for rapid, unified, and highly effective disaster response.
Mr. Je Setth said the government, under the Prime Minister's leadership, prioritizes proactive disaster prevention and mitigation rather than reactive problem-solving after incidents. This drill serves as a key mechanism to test the incident command system, inter-agency coordination, resource management, and crisis communication, enabling all sectors to work efficiently together during real emergencies.
"Effective disaster management starts with preparedness, not waiting for disasters to occur and then responding. Today's drill will help all agencies work systematically, make swift decisions, and protect lives and property with the highest efficiency," he stated.
The C-MEX26 drill simulated a flood disaster scenario in Songkhla province, covering all dimensions of disaster management—from situation assessment, early warning, incident command, evacuation, shelter establishment, victim assistance, public communication to post-event recovery. Agencies from central, regional, and partner networks participated to elevate the nation's disaster readiness.
The Deputy Minister instructed all agencies to use the drill results to update emergency response and disaster management plans, modernize them, and develop personnel capabilities, command systems, data exchange, and inter-agency integration to respond promptly to emergencies and minimize impacts on the public.
Mr. Je Setth added that although Thailand must currently monitor flooding in several areas, attention must also be given to the El Niño phenomenon expected later this year. This could affect water resources, agriculture, consumption, and the economy. Therefore, he assigned the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation and related agencies to closely monitor weather and water conditions and review disaster management plans to align with all potential scenarios.
"Today, our preparation is not only for floods but for all future disasters, including droughts and climate change impacts. I believe disaster management must be a national agenda, driven by all sectors together, because preparedness before disasters is the most valuable investment to protect lives, the economy, and national security," he emphasized.
After the drill, Mr. Je Setth delivered policy directions to executives, officials, and staff of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, emphasizing proactive work, collaboration among all sectors, and comprehensive disaster readiness to effectively safeguard lives and property.
All executives, officials, and staff who participated in the drill warmly welcomed the policy, expressing their commitment to advancing disaster prevention and mitigation efforts. They agreed that prevention and preparedness are crucial to reducing losses and pledged to enhance inter-agency integration to build an effective disaster management system that earns public trust sustainably.