Thai PM Paetongtarn visits flood-stricken Chiang Rai as army evacuates thousands amid intensifying monsoon threat

BANGKOK, June 28 — Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra made an emergency visit on Saturday to the country’s flood-affected northern region, where the military is evacuating residents after heavy monsoon rains inundated thousands of homes.

According to the Royal Thai Army, over 3,700 homes in five districts of Chiang Rai province have been flooded, along with 80 hectares of farmland. Roads in three areas have also become impassable.

With more heavy rain forecast in the coming days, the military has deployed rafts to help ferry residents from homes submerged in muddy floodwaters, as shown in photos shared on its Facebook page.

Paetongtarn visited the worst-hit Phaya Mengrai district, about 25 kilometres from the Laos border, for a one-day inspection.

“The prime minister met with flood-affected communities and inquired about their well-being, including access to food, clean water, and care for vulnerable groups,” the government said in a statement.

Her visit comes amid growing political pressure in Bangkok, where protesters gathered Saturday demanding her resignation over a leaked diplomatic phone call.

While the exact number of affected individuals remains unclear, the military reported that over 4,400 households have been impacted.

Thailand’s disaster prevention agency said it is monitoring water levels closely and has urged residents to move belongings to higher ground in case of flash floods

Although Thailand typically experiences annual monsoon rains in the third quarter, climate change has intensified weather patterns, increasing the risk of severe flooding.

A major flood in 2011 killed more than 500 people and damaged millions of homes. — AFP