KA-32 helicopter on standby as three northern provinces brace for floods

The government has ordered Nan, Phayao and Lamphun provinces to prepare for flooding, flash floods and run-off, with officials instructed to maintain round-the-clock readiness and place a KA-32 disaster-relief helicopter on standby.

Deputy Prime Minister Yodchanan Wongsawat, chair of the committee overseeing flood and drought prevention and response in northern Thailand, signed an urgent directive to the governors of the three provinces on Wednesday (August 19).

The order followed the Thai Meteorological Department’s August 2026 forecast of thunderstorms, heavy rain in some areas and strong winds, which could cause flash floods, rapid run-off and rivers to overflow.

The committee set out eight measures for the provinces to implement immediately.

1. Closely monitor and assess conditions

Provincial authorities must coordinate information from upstream areas and neighbouring provinces to forecast developing conditions and issue timely warnings.

Particular attention must be paid to areas repeatedly affected by flooding, densely populated communities, economic districts, tourist destinations and major transport routes.

2. Improve the speed and accuracy of warnings

Authorities must integrate available data and analysis to issue warnings through the Cell Broadcast system.

Information and instructions must also be communicated through provincial, district and local authorities, as well as subdistrict heads, village heads and community leaders, so residents receive clear guidance and can respond immediately.

3. Prepare personnel, equipment and KA-32 helicopter

Officials, boats, water pumps and other disaster-response equipment must be positioned in advance at high-risk locations and remain ready for operations 24 hours a day.

A KA-32 disaster-prevention and mitigation helicopter must also be placed on standby for evacuating people and delivering relief supplies to areas that are difficult to reach by land.

4. Prepare temporary shelters

The provinces must ensure that temporary shelters have adequate facilities, food, drinking water and public-health services.

Field kitchens and sufficient cooking supplies and ingredients must also be prepared for people displaced by flooding.

5. Provide continuous water-level updates

Authorities must regularly inform the public about river and waterway levels, low-lying risk areas and changing conditions.

Warnings must also reach floating-raft and riverside restaurant operators, people living along waterways and tourists travelling into affected areas.

6. Establish incident command centres and prioritise vulnerable groups

Should flooding occur, each province must establish an incident command centre to direct operations and mobilise personnel, equipment and other resources.

Assistance must prioritise vulnerable groups. Provincial authorities are required to coordinate with the Provincial Social Development and Human Security Office to ensure that information on people requiring special assistance remains up to date.

7. Accelerate recovery and compensation

Officials must promptly survey and compile records of damage so that affected residents can receive assistance under government policy.

Payments must be made quickly, comprehensively and fairly under the Finance Ministry’s 2025 regulations governing government emergency advances for disaster relief.

8. Coordinate with Higher Education Ministry agencies

Provincial authorities must work with local agencies under the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation.

These agencies will support flood-response operations, help move belongings and take part in clean-up and rehabilitation after water levels subside, with assistance available around the clock.

The measures were introduced under a Prime Minister’s Office order establishing five regional committees responsible for flood and drought prevention and response.

The committees are intended to coordinate agencies more effectively and accelerate assistance for people affected by disasters, including those in Thailand’s northern provinces.