Catastrophic flooding across the South has caused economic losses of more than 500 billion baht, the Finance Ministry reported on Monday.
Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas released the estimate in an update on the disaster, which began on November 21 and has since affected 2.9 million people in eight southern provinces.
Hat Yai in Songkhla province remains the worst-hit area, with extensive damage across residential and commercial zones.
Mr. Ekniti, who is also Deputy Prime Minister, said Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul chaired an urgent cross-ministerial meeting on Monday to fast-track assistance.
Senior officials from the Finance, Commerce, Labour and Digital Economy ministries, along with other agencies, joined the discussion. The National Economic Policy Committee later endorsed a comprehensive package of relief and rehabilitation measures.
Initial emergency aid was delivered during an inspection visit to Hat Yai district on Sunday, where survival kits, food and drinking water were distributed.
Officials also surveyed widespread damage affecting both small and large businesses. According to Mr. Ekniti, the newly approved support plan includes financial assistance, tax measures, insurance support, livelihood restoration and the repair of critical infrastructure.
Short-term measures prioritise immediate needs such as shelter, essential utilities, tax-supported donations and accelerated access to unemployment benefits.
Longer-term efforts will focus on easing debt burdens and restoring local economies. State-owned banks will introduce a 12-month suspension of both principal and interest payments, with zero interest charged for loans up to one million baht during the moratorium.
Additional credit support will include 12-month interest-free loans for recovery and emergency needs, along with tax exemptions for affected individuals and businesses.
Cost-of-living assistance will cover customs duty exemptions on machinery used for repairs, rental waivers for state-owned property, reduced utility bills and the deployment of mobile service units to help with business registration and export procedures.
The Finance Ministry said the coordinated response is expected to deliver broad support for households and businesses, helping stabilise livelihoods and lay the groundwork for long-term economic recovery across the South.
Government spokesman Siripong Angkasakulkiat added on Monday that the Prime Minister has instructed all agencies to work swiftly, emphasising that Hat Yai should return to its normal condition within a month after floodwaters subside.
He said the Disaster Relief Centre has confirmed that 26,000 verified households have each received 9,000 baht, with 239 million baht disbursed on Monday through state banks.
Compensation will also be provided to families of insured workers who died during the floods: 50,000 baht under Section 33 and 25,000 baht under Section 40, the spokesman said.
Infrastructure restoration continues. The Provincial Waterworks Authority reported that 80% of Hat Yai’s water supply has been reinstated, with full service expected by Dec 3.
Public health permanent secretary Dr Somlerk Jeungsmarn said Hat Yai Hospital, one of the major medical facilities in the lower South, has suffered damages estimated at one billion baht.
