PRIME MINISTER Prayut Chan-o-cha visited the southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat yesterday to give moral support to flood victims in the Pak Phanang basin and to suggest an approach to dealing with floods to the governors of Prachuap Khiri Khan and 14 other southern provinces.

Heavy morning rains had earlier forced the military plane carrying the premier to divert from Nakhon Si Thammarat airport to Wing 7 military airport in Surat Thani’s Punpin district.

Prayut then took a two-and-a-half-hour road journey to the Pak Phanang Basin Area Royal Development Project Coordination Centre, where he met with provincial governors, farmers, and flood victims. Prayut said he brought along members of the Cabinet, including Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister General Chatchai Sarikulya, so they could work in a more integrated manner with local officials to formulate plans to tackle floods.

Prayut urged people to cooperate with the government and share ideas to solve the flooding problem.

In the wake of flooding that has ravaged 23 northern provinces since October, Prayut said the government had tried to manage water in a way so as to minimise losses.

With major floods predicted for the South this weekend due to an incoming tropical depression, Prayut shared the recent experience in the North and Central regions.

It was necessary that those living in areas not protected by flood barriers faced the floodwaters in order to reduce flood impacts on more densely populated areas and key economic areas, as well as hospitals, he said. He urged people to follow weather news closely.

Parts of the South were already hit by heavy rains and waves up to three metres high. Prayut warned business operators and tourists to exercise caution. Tour operators must avoid the risk of their boats sinking and harming Thai people or foreign visitors.

Noting that the South had four major dams and 39 small reservoirs where officials must also consider storing water for the drought season, Prayut suggested that the region apply the model recently used in Central Thailand, with 12 water-retention fields covering 1 million rai to help absorb floodwaters.

‘Rain is just water’

He said he had come ahead of the expected floods to ensure all agencies, including the Armed Forces were prepared for an emergency situation, including evacuation, damage-repair and rehabilitation. “Come rains, we will fight them together. … Rain is just water. We are people with hands, feet and brains,” he said.

The South had high potential for tourism, farming (para-rubber and fruits) and fisheries, the premier said. He suggested people shift to growing palm oil and carefully plan their crops to ensure diversity, rather than growing a single economic crop, in order to keep up with competitors.