On Saturday, Mr. Anutin Charnvirakul, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior traveled to Chiang Rai Province to monitor the flood situation and recovery.
Mr. Anutin visited the Mae Sai District at the Mae Sai Bridge and Wat Mueang Daeng to encourage volunteer defense corps members and residents who had their homes damaged by flooding. He stated that we must accelerate recovery by mobilizing all sectors: the military, the civilian sector, and the public sector.
He praised the Mae Sai District Chief, who has retired but continues to assist with flood recovery efforts alongside his wife. He expressed gratitude to the current District Chief for not abandoning the people.
Mr. Anutin told reporters that the Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior and acting Governor of Chiang Rai, Mr. Chotinrin Ketsam, had informed him that the worst-hit area, Sai Lom Joy Market, would be cleared by the end of October. He expressed sympathy for the business owners.
When asked about compensation, Mr. Anutin said the Cabinet, by the Prime Minister’s order, would provide compensation at a level of 9,000 baht per household. There is also a proposal from the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation for 10,000 baht per house for cleanup, which has been sent to the Comptroller General’s Department for consideration.
Mr. Anutin stated that we will urgently address the situation. We cannot stop the water from rising, but now we know where it is going, which helps us manage the situation more effectively.
Currently, we must bring in machinery to clear wood debris and logs that may block water flow. We have also removed a significant amount of soil and mud, which will harden if not cleared quickly.
Mr. Anutin encouraged more than 300 members of the Volunteer Defense Corps and thanked them for their efforts to help flood victims in Chiang Rai Province. He also requested additional Volunteer Defense Corps personnel from across the nation to assist the people of Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai.
Elephants Die after Mass Flooding in Chiang Mai
Meanwhile, severe flooding struck Chiang Mai on Saturday, as the Ping River swelled to a record 5.3 meters, engulfing the world-famous Elephant Nature Park. The park is home to 126 elephants, two of which were confirmed dead after being swept away by floodwaters.
The two elephants were found dead near the Sibsan resort in Mae Taeng District on Saturday, according to the park’s founder, Saengduean “Lek” Chailert. Ms. Saengduean described Friday as “a day of darkness and gloom” at the Elephant Conservation Park.
During the extreme flooding, several cows and buffaloes disappeared from the park. All the cats and dogs on the compound are safe, she reported, but there were no cages for them. She expressed gratitude to the rescuers, volunteers, and government institutions for their assistance. Many elephant camps deployed mahouts to help control and transport frightened elephants in the park.
She also requested help in evacuating 23 blind and elderly horses from the flooded park, as well as donations of old clothes and blankets for the thousands of dogs and cats that lost everything in their enclosures due to the floodwaters.
Geoff Thomas is an award winning journalist known for his sharp insights and no-nonsense reporting style. Over the years he has worked for Reuters and the Canadian Press covering everything from political scandals to human interest stories. He brings a clear and direct approach to his work.
