Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra on Saturday reassured the flood-stricken residents of Mae Sai district in Chiang Rai that normalcy would resume in the region, which has been the most severely affected in the North, by November 1st.
Concluding a two-day tour of the Northern region to assess flood impacts and restoration efforts, the Prime Minister also visited the neighboring Chiang Mai province, where the situation is steadily improving.
Upon her arrival in Mae Sai on Saturday, Ms. Paetongtarn received updates from officials of the Royal Thai Army Engineering Department before visiting two villages, Ban Ko Sai and Ban Pha Chom, to evaluate the progress of the rebuilding efforts.
While traveling, the PM informed journalists that she anticipates the complete restoration of 24 major roads and the Sailom Joy Market, a border market devastated by the floods, within approximately 45 days.
She noted that the seasonal floods this year demolished 64 homes, and the affected homeowners would receive swift financial aid from the government.
Additionally, she met with flood victims still grappling with mud-laden homes.
Tan Hongkham, aged 80, was moved to tears upon encountering the PM, expressing disbelief at seeing Ms. Paetongtarn in such circumstances.
The Prime Minister reassured her that numerous soldiers and personnel were working tirelessly to restore conditions to their pre-flood state.
At Wat Phrom Wihan, a temple located in tambon Wiang Phang Kham of Mae Sai, the PM promised initial financial support to victims, including four families who had incurred significant damages.
Ms. Paetongtarn has tasked Deputy Interior Minister Theerarat Samrejvanich with leading a command center to coordinate and expedite the remaining restoration efforts, aiming for completion within 30 days.
Before her departure to Bangkok on Saturday, the Prime Minister distributed financial aid and flood relief kits to several individuals at Wat Sat Luang in the Muang district of Chiang Mai.
Water Recedes, Recovery Progresses
The flood-stricken zones in Chiang Mai have been segmented into seven drainage areas, as per Atthawit Nakwatchara, the director of the local Royal Irrigation Department office.
Although the floodwaters have largely receded in most parts of Chiang Mai’s city center, specific lower areas still require water pumps for drainage, particularly in the southern regions of the province, he noted.
In the Central Plains, the Chao Phraya Dam escalated its water release to 1,899 cubic meters per second on Saturday, marking a record high for the season.
This surge led to the abrupt inundation of three villages along the Phong Pheng Canal in the Pa Mok district of Ang Thong province, which links to the Chao Phraya River, early Saturday morning, with water levels reaching 40 to 50 centimeters.
In Ayutthaya, authorities scrambled to heighten the flood barrier at Wat Chaiwatthanaram, the famed temple within the Ayutthaya Historical Park, as the Chao Phraya’s waters neared overflow.
Residents in tambon Ban Kum in Bang Ban district of Ayutthaya awoke to find their neighborhoods submerged under a meter of water.
In Sukhothai, breaches in at least three sections of the flood barrier along the Yom River resulted in damage to multiple communities and fruit farms in the Sawankhalok district.
According to the latest report from the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, since August 16, 32,973 households across 18 provinces have suffered from flooding.
The Meteorological Department issued a warning on Saturday, forecasting unstable weather conditions with strong winds and heavy rains expected to affect the North, Central Plains, Bangkok, and nearby provinces until Thursday.
