Deputy Prime Minister Songsak stressed that caution is necessary when discussing water issues today. He affirmed the government has prepared measures to handle flooding in the southern region, providing full support including aid and relief. Officials have been deployed more rapidly. He noted that natural disasters cannot be predicted.
At 10:00 a.m. on 29 Oct 2026 GMT+7 at the Government House, Deputy Prime Minister Songsak Thongsri, overseeing the National Water Resources Office (NWRO), spoke about flood conditions in the southern region. He said that caution is needed when discussing water issues to reassure the public. The government has prepared measures and forecasts for the situation, with officials ready and relief plans in place. The goal is to care for people quickly and minimize damage. He emphasized that natural disasters are unpredictable. Regarding the current situation in the south, he confirmed the government is providing full support, with prompt aid and relief efforts and faster deployment of officials to affected areas.
Songsak said the southern region already faces concerning conditions. Each year, rains from the north and northeast end up in the south. As the overseer of NWRO, he has been working to learn from past experiences to find sustainable solutions. The problem remains that water retention areas are insufficient and mostly privately owned. NWRO has developed maps showing how to manage excess water at each location to address both flooding and drought, representing a sustainable approach to solving these issues.
When asked whether the Prime Minister emphasized budget issues related to the National Disaster Insurance project, Songsak said that in the Cabinet meeting, the Prime Minister stressed the importance of securing water retention areas. Budget matters must be addressed by reallocating remaining funds from various areas to cover these needs.