Bangkok: Authorities in Nan province and lower northern Thailand are on high alert as another round of heavy rain is expected on August 23rd, with warnings issued for potential landslides and flash floods. "Seri" cautioned that the saturated soil in these regions might not be able to absorb additional rainfall, exacerbating the risk of natural disasters. He highlighted the limitations of the central warning system and urged local authorities to establish parallel war rooms for better coordination, as they possess a deeper understanding of local conditions.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Seree Suparatit, Director of the Climate Change and Disaster Center at Rangsit University and Vice President of the National Disaster Warning Council Foundation, expressed concern about the current water situation in Nan Province. While water levels in Nan city remain stable or are slightly decreasing, Wiang Sa District still faces high water levels. Despite expected decreases in water levels on August 21st and 22nd, another bout of rainfall is anticipated on August 23rd due to a low-pressure system in northern Vietnam. Mr. Seree stressed the need for daily updates to keep track of changing weather patterns and underscored the significant risks of landslides and flash floods in upstream areas.
Mr. Seree pointed out that central government warnings often lack specific guidance for residents on where to seek shelter. He explained that while the central warning system disseminates alerts to local authorities, these entities are responsible for informing residents about specific shelter locations. He urged local authorities to establish their own war rooms to work closely with the central government for more effective monitoring. Despite cell broadcasts sent early in the morning, there have been fatalities, suggesting a gap in communication. Mr. Seree called for an investigation into the matter to improve the warning system's effectiveness.
When questioned about the lessons learned from previous flooding incidents, Mr. Seree emphasized that infrastructure and land use have changed dramatically, making areas more susceptible to flooding with even smaller amounts of rainfall. He stressed the importance of local authorities assessing their water absorption capacities and developing their own early warning and risk assessment systems. He argued that relying solely on the central government is inadequate, as it cannot provide specific warnings for every region. Local authorities need to be empowered with the tools, knowledge, and people necessary to manage these risks effectively.
In response to queries about which provinces should be on alert for the predicted rainfall on August 23rd, Mr. Seree reiterated that the lower northern region, including Nan province, should be closely monitored. He also mentioned the importance of updating the situation between August 21st and 22nd for more accurate forecasts.