Latest news with #TheeraratSamrejvanich
Bangkok Post
2 days ago
- Climate
- Bangkok Post
Rising river levels trigger flood alerts
Flood warnings have been issued as river levels have surged rapidly in some northern provinces, with a Cell Broadcast (CB) alert sounded as water rose quickly on the Kok River. The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) issued a CB alert to residents in low-lying areas along the Kok River in Chiang Rai province, warning them to move belongings to higher ground and take care of vulnerable groups, including the elderly and bedridden patients. The alert follows a continued rise in river levels, with potential flooding expected around 6pm Wednesday in tambons Huai Chomphu, Mae Yao, Doi Hang, Wiang and Rim Kok, and other areas within Chiang Rai municipality. The municipality posted an update on Facebook detailing a preparedness meeting earlier in the day. Water levels at Nawang Bridge–Tha Ton Station stood at 6.91 metres, or 0.41m above the riverbank, with stable flow rates. At King Mengrai Bridge Station, the current flow reached 611.20 m³/second, just 0.18 m³/s below the bank level, with forecasts indicating levels could rise to 6.20–6.50m by evening, potentially flooding riverside zones and low-lying urban areas in Chiang Rai. Also Tuesday, officials in Mae Hong Son reported that the Pai River, a key waterway, had surged past crisis levels. Floodwaters have begun affecting farmland in tambons Pang Mu and Pha Bong although evacuations are not yet required. The flooding in Mae Hong Son is attributed to heavy rainfall in upstream Pai district, which has accumulated in recent weeks. This year's rainfall exceeds seasonal averages, partly due to remnants of storm Wipha, compounding earlier persistent rainfall that has inundated homes and farmlands along the Pai River. In the northeastern province of Nakhon Phanom, the Mekong River continued its rapid rise, reaching 11.3m Tuesday morning -- just 66cm below the 12m critical level. The river has overflowed onto Sawan Chai Khong Road, flooding over 5km behind the local highway office. Businesses along the river have begun moving goods to prevent losses as floodwaters reach storefronts. Meteorological reports forecast 70% thunderstorm coverage across the province, with heavy to very heavy rain in isolated areas. Nakhon Phanom's rainfall peaked at 54mm in Muang district. In Nan, several days of persistent rainfall have triggered flash floods and road collapses in Chalerm Prakiat district. Social media images posted by "Kon Lanna" show road sections completely washed away, posing severe risks to motorists. Sukrit Koetsang, director of the Northern Meteorological Centre, warned of persistent heavy rain in the upper North, although rainfall intensity is set to subside as the monsoon trough shifts northward. However, the risk of landslides and flash flooding remains, especially in hilly areas, low-lying zones, and near riverbanks. Meanwhile, Deputy Interior Minister Theerarat Samrejvanich chaired an emergency meeting Tuesday to coordinate flood and landslide response operations triggered by tropical storm Wipha. She instructed provincial authorities to accelerate aid to affected residents and prioritise the protection of critical infrastructure, including hospitals, communities, and economic hubs.
Bangkok Post
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Bangkok Post
Andaman provinces to ramp up disaster planning
The governors of six provinces on the Andaman Sea coast have been ordered to boost their preparations for natural disasters, with Deputy Interior Minister Theerarat Samrejvanich saying that any inadequacies in their plans will not be tolerated. Ms Theerarat issued the directive after meeting the governors and officials from the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM), the Department of Mineral Resources and the Meteorological Department in Bangkok to discuss earthquake and tsunami preparedness for the Andaman coastal region. She said the government has taken note of public concerns about the possibility of another tsunami, after recent reports about a series of earthquakes in the Indian and Pacific oceans. To ensure public safety, she said provinces located on the Andaman coast must allocate enough budget, human resources and equipment to help deal with the aftermath of a disaster. Evacuation routes and directions to shelters must also be regularly updated to reflect newer developments and clearly signposted, she said, before adding disaster preparedness drills must be routinely organised to help ensure local residents are ready when a disaster strikes. DDPM was also instructed to ensure its earthquake alert system is operational 24 hours a day, and that the system receives accurate information from seismographs in earthquake-prone areas. "Equipment deficiencies must not be used as an excuse to explain disaster alert failures," she said. The Public Relations Department, meanwhile, was instructed to ensure that the public gets the correct information in emergencies, which Ms Theerarat said is key to preventing panic, especially in disaster-prone areas. When asked about the recent earthquakes detected in waters off the coast of Thailand, Sumet Saithong, the deputy director of the Department of Mineral Resources, said the latest tremors were different from the one in 2004. "These quakes were minor and didn't displace much seawater," he said. DDPM director-general, Phasakorn Boonyalak, said overland quakes with a magnitude of 2.5 and over will trigger the department's alert system. Undersea quakes, meanwhile, will be picked up by the system if they have a magnitude of 5.0 or more. The nation's cell broadcast warning system will send out alerts for overland quakes measuring M4 and over, and M6 and over for submarine quakes, he noted.
Bangkok Post
30-06-2025
- Politics
- Bangkok Post
New rule allows citizenship for many stateless people in Thailand
A new regulation that will facilitate the granting of Thai citizenship to children of stateless people residing in Thailand and also to members of ethnic minority groups living in Thailand has come into effect, being announceed in the Royal Gazette on Monday. Deputy Interior Minister Theerarat Samrejvanich sid the changes arein line with a cabinet resolution which approved criteria to fast-track the official recognition of stateless individuals who have lived in the country for a long time. Under the new rules, Thai citizenship can now be granted to individuals born in Thailand to stateless parents whose personal data is recorded in official population surveys conducted up to 1999; and to stateless persons identified in surveys between 2005 and 2011 under the Strategic Plan to Address Legal Status and Rights Issues, including members of the Moken ethnic group, who meet the required criteria. Ms Theerarat said the regulation will remain in effect for one year from its announcement on June 30, unless extended by a future cabinet resolution. Interior Ministry permanent secretary Unsit Sampantarat said the government of Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra had instructed the Interior Ministry to implement the regulation in line with the cabinet's resolution approved during the Srettha Thavisin administration on Oct 29 last year. Mr Unsit said that this is the first time Thailand has addressed such issues in a tangible and expedited manner. He said the regulation is aimed at ethnic minority groups who have lived in Thailand for years, whose biometric records are already included in the national database. These individuals, of which there are about 140,000, are not undocumented migrants or illegal foreigners, he said. He made it clear the regulation does not apply to migrant workers, displaced people in temporary shelters or foreign passport holders. Eligible individuals from the two recognised groups must meet the criteria outlined in the regulation and submit their applications through the proper channels. Applicants in Bangkok should file with the Bureau of Registration Administration at the Department of Provincial Administration, while those in the provinces must apply through their local district office.
