Disasters and emergency response
Disasters
Drought declared across 11 provinces
Thailand is facing a drought after emergency measures were ordered in 54 districts in 11 provinces, according to the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation.Monton Sudprasert, director-general of the department, said that a drought has been declared in Chiang Rai, Nan, Nakhon Phanom, Maha Sarakham, ...
Bangkok Post Reporter
Mekong 'cash machine' needs an overhaul
Just over a week ago, many people in Thailand, particularly those in highrises, were thrown into panic when their buildings were swaying. They didn’t know at the time that a strong earthquake had just hit inside Lao borders near Nan’s district of Chaloem Phrakiat.The shallow ...
Wasant Techawongtham
MRC ministerial council approves a drought management strategy, other policies, boosting Mekong countries’ ability to prepare for future disaster
Ministerial delegates from the Mekong River Commission (MRC) Council today at their annual gathering in Phnom Penh approved a drought management strategy for 2020-2025, allowing Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thailand and Viet Nam to prepare for and manage drought collectively. The approved strategy came as the region ...
Drought continues to hit Mekong countries, risking stress on crop production, water shortages
Severe to extreme drought is expected to hit countries in the lower Mekong basin from now until January 2020, warns the Mekong River Commission. Thailand and Cambodia would be hardest hit compared to Lao PDR and Viet Nam. Preliminary analysis of MRC’s data has shown that ...
Earthquake hits in far-north Thailand
An earthquake of 6.1 magnitude has rattled the centre and north of the country this morning. The epicentre of the tremors was around northern Nan province, on the Laos border.At this stage there has been no immediate reports of casualties or damage although The Thaiger ...
Experts warn of 'endless' flood cycle
Engineers have warned that Thailand will remain trapped in a cycle of flooding unless the government expands natural catchment areas, raises flood embankments and builds more underground drainage systems.The Council of Engineers Thailand (CoE) and the Engineering Institute of Thailand (EIT) yesterday proposed solutions to ...
Supoj Wancharoen
Floods remain, heavy rain to continue
Floods remain in seven provinces and heavy rain is forecast to continue due to the influence of departing storm Kajiki.Chayaphol Thitisak, director-general of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, on Wednesday reported flooding in Amnat Charoen, Khon Kaen, Phichit, Phitsanulok, Roi Et, Ubon Ratchathani ...
Bangkok Post Reporter
UN warns Mekong River is a Disaster Hotspot
The Mekong River basin was identified as a major disaster risk hotspot by the United Nations today.Poor people living close to the river suffer high exposure to flood and drought, according to a report released today. A UN official also called for the nations in ...
Growing disaster risks exceed Asia-Pacific’s capacity to respond
Latest UN report also warns Thais living in the northeast are vulnerable. The relentless sequence of natural disasters in Asia and the Pacific in the past two years was beyond what the region had previously experienced or was able to predict, and this is a ...
Wichit Chaitrong
Cabinet approves drought mitigation plans
The Cabinet greenlit a central budget for tackling drought, while the Royal Irrigation Department is confident that there is enough water for the production of tap water.Keep watching ...