PM holds mid-air discussion, orders evacuation of people in risk areas

The Prime Minister did not waste time in a mid-air meeting, ordering immediate evacuation of people from risk areas, urging the Interior Ministry to work in the Northeast after Nong Khai and Loei waters began to overflow the banks. Reporters reported that while traveling from Bangkok to Chiang Rai Province, Ms. Paethongtarn Shinawatra, Prime Minister, spent time on the plane meeting with Mr. Phumtham Vejjayachai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, General Nattapong Nakphanit, Deputy Minister of Defense, Mr. Suriya Juangroongruangkit, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport, Ms. Thirarat Samretwanich, Deputy Minister of Interior, Dr. Prommin Lertsuridej, Secretary-General to the Prime Minister, and Mr. Chayan Muangsong, Deputy Secretary-General of the Office of National Water Resources. The Prime Minister met and monitored the water situation in the Mekong River, including the flow of water from Chiang Rai Province to the northeastern region. Currently, some northeastern provinces, inclu ding Loei and Nong Khai, have water levels starting to overflow their banks. The Prime Minister emphasized helping people to quickly leave the risk areas. He wanted a concrete response plan to assure people that even after leaving their homes, there will still be officials to look after their property. He also wanted factual information, especially water levels, to be used as information for people to make decisions. Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Phumtham Vejjayachai said that equipment, helicopters and personnel from the Defense Ministry, the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM), as well as military personnel, police and Interior Ministry personnel from all agencies are ready to help evacuate people from the area and look after their properties. The Prime Minister also asked in Nong Khai Province after the warning whether the people had moved their belongings to higher ground and evacuated, and asked the Ministry of Interior to give orders to the area and for officials to c losely monitor the situation because it is an area that will receive water from the Mekong River after the northern region. Source: Thai News Agency