Government Declares Emergency in Songkhla as Flood Crisis Intensifies

The government has declared an emergency in Songkhla province amid severe flooding that continues to affect multiple districts. Under this declaration, the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces has been appointed Incident Commander and will oversee coordination of rescue and relief operations. Agencies across the country have already deployed personnel to help evacuate residents and move people out of high-risk areas.

Officials stated that evacuations remain the immediate priority, with restoration work to begin as soon as water levels recede. Preparations include distributing food and essential supplies, supporting water management, and deploying military vehicles and specialized equipment. Authorities stressed that relief operations began from the early stages of the disaster, supported by forward and support command structures activated under the Emergency Decree.

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has addressed criticism over the timing of the emergency command center, stating that teams have been working in the field since the onset of the floods and continue coordinating directly with on-site command units. He also addressed conditions at three affected hospitals, where flooding disrupted electrical systems. Generator-equipped vehicles and electrical technicians have already been deployed to maintain power while patient transfers are carried out carefully.

The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation has raised the incident level to Level 4, granting the Permanent Secretary of the Interior expanded authority to direct interagency operations and issue instructions. Relief workers from multiple ministries are supporting drainage efforts, transportation needs, medical operations, and logistics. The government spokesperson team will issue daily briefings to keep the public updated.

Anutin also clarified that assigning the Supreme Commander as Incident Commander does not conflict with the responsibilities of the Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Agriculture, explaining that each role is clearly defined to allow for rapid decision-making without operational overlap.  

Source: NBT World
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