Seree Suparat warns the lower northern region and Nan province to monitor on 23 August for another round of rain, posing risks of landslides and flash floods. He explains that central warning systems provide only average images and recommends localities establish parallel war rooms.
At 13:10 on 20 August 2026 GMT+7. Mr. Seree Suparat, Director of the Climate Change and Disaster Center at Rangsit University and Vice Chairman of the National Disaster Warning Council Foundation, gave an interview at the Government House regarding the overall water situation in Nan province. He stated that it is still raining today, but water levels in Nan city are stable and slightly decreasing, while water levels in Wiang Sa district remain high.
. On 21–22 August 2026, water levels are expected to drop significantly. On 21 August, water should be below the banks. However, forecasts for 23 August indicate another rain system due to a low-pressure area over northern Vietnam. This is the current prediction. The situation must be updated daily, and it is unclear whether the rain will return as before. Another critical point is that the soil is already highly saturated and cannot absorb more water, increasing the risk of landslides and flash floods in the upper areas. This requires close monitoring.
Mr. Seree added that usually, when warnings are sent centrally or via Cell Broadcast, feedback is received asking where people should evacuate, as no shelter locations are provided. He clarified that central warning systems send alerts so local authorities can inform villagers where to evacuate. The central system cannot specify shelters because it covers the entire country across 76 provinces. Therefore, localities should establish war rooms alongside central operations to coordinate closely. Despite Cell Broadcast warnings sent between 04:00 and 06:00, fatalities still occurred, indicating possible gaps in reaching the public. The situation must be analyzed to understand what happened.
When asked about previous extensive lessons learned, such as the flooding in Hat Yai district, Songkhla province, and the ongoing flooding in the north, Mr. Seree said that infrastructure and land use have changed completely. Previously, 100–200 millimeters of rain would not cause major issues, but now 60 millimeters can cause problems. Localities must assess their own water absorption capacity.
This is a crucial point I want to emphasize. Local authorities must have their own warning systems and risk assessment capabilities. Otherwise, problems will keep recurring with increasing casualties and damages. The government must seriously push policies supporting this. Currently, everything is centralized, but central authorities cannot warn specific areas effectively. Who can warn that only 300 millimeters of rain fell in Pua district? The central system only issues average warnings of 60–80 millimeters, but in reality, 300 millimeters fell. This is a significant issue.
When asked if applying this model nationwide would reduce fatalities and damages, Mr. Seree agreed, saying it is correct if areas become strong and close to the people. However, strengthening them requires time, personnel, tools, and knowledge, all of which are important.
Regarding the forecasted rain on 23 August and which provinces should be cautious, Mr. Seree responded, that the lower northern region and Nan province should be vigilant. Nevertheless, the situation from 21 to 22 August must be monitored to improve the accuracy of the forecast for 23 August. .