Bangkok: Deputy Interior Minister held a meeting to monitor and prepare for Typhoon Kajiki. He ordered the governors of all 58 provinces to ensure public safety and prepare for evacuations in case of emergency. He emphasized the importance of communicating accurate information to prevent public panic. The Meteorological Department stated that the upper Northeastern and Northern regions of Thailand will be prepared for heavy rain today and tomorrow, with the weather easing after August 27.
According to Thai News Agency, Ms. Thirat Rattanawanich, Deputy Minister of Interior, chaired a meeting of the Central Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Command Center (CDMC) to prepare for flooding caused by Typhoon Kajiki. The meeting took place on the 5th floor of Building 3, National Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Headquarters, DDPM, and via electronic media.
The Deputy Minister of Interior stated that, following monitoring of the movement of Tropical Storm Kajiki, it is now affecting the northeastern provinces of Bueng Kan, Nong Khai, Nakhon Phanom, Sakon Nakhon, and Mukdahan, which have already experienced overnight rainfall. The storm is expected to move toward the northern region. The governors of all 58 affected provinces have prepared equipment and machinery to deal with the storm, as well as communicating with the public to provide the most official information. This is to ensure that vulnerable groups and the elderly are prepared and prepared. Evacuation plans have been in place, and those concerned about their property have been moved to safer locations. Coordination will be ongoing with the Royal Irrigation Department to drain water to accommodate the arrival of new water to minimize damage.
The Deputy Minister of Interior also stated at the meeting that several areas have already been affected by the storm, but the impacts are not severe. This concerns Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, Acting Prime Minister, Mr. Phumtham Wechayachai, who has ordered several provinces to closely monitor the situation. The storm is now trending towards multiple areas, leading to nationwide warnings. At today's meeting, the governors of all 58 provinces presented information to the meeting to assess the situation further, ensuring the most integrated and collaborative work possible. Mr. Phumtham also instructed the establishment of a war room and inspections of at-risk areas, including large billboards, to prevent a repeat of past incidents, such as billboards falling on houses. This initiative is considered a proactive approach to preventing incidents before they occur. This also includes preventing the spread of fake news that has not been screened by relevant agencies, to prevent public panic. He u rged all relevant agencies to jointly assess the situation, forecast the impact, and provide recommendations for public preparedness regarding Typhoon Kajiki.
Mr. Somkuan Tonjan, Director of the Meteorological Department's Weather Forecasting Division, reported on the situation of Tropical Storm Kajiki, stating that its center was formed off the city of Muang Vinh, Vietnam, and that it would reach the coast at 4:00 PM today. The storm's track is expected to be typhoon-like, moving at speeds of 130 kilometers per hour. However, the storm's direction will change slightly today. The upper northeastern region of Thailand, including Nong Khai, Bueng Kan, and Nakhon Phanom provinces, is expected to be affected this evening.
On August 26th, more rain will fall in the northern region, particularly in the provinces of Phayao, Phrae, Nan, Uttaradit, Lampang, Chiang Mai, and Mae Hong Son. Compared to Tropical Storm Wipha, Tropical Storm Kajiki will experience less rain. However, on August 27th, the rain will ease and should not be a cause for concern.