Bangkok: The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) has mobilized 18 units to analyze the flooding in Hat Yai and upgraded emergency response plans nationwide.
According to Thai News Agency, the DDPM, in collaboration with 18 emergency response centers and partner networks, has reviewed lessons learned from the "Emergency Management, Recovery, and Relief efforts following the Hat Yai floods." The analysis will be presented to the government to foster the development of more effective emergency management practices.
Today, the DDPM held a workshop to review lessons learned from flood management in Hat Yai District, Songkhla Province in 2025, focusing on emergency management, recovery, and rehabilitation. Ms. Chatchadaporn Boonpeeranuch, Deputy Director-General of the DDPM, chaired the meeting. Over 120 representatives from 18 Emergency Response Units (ERU) and related regional agencies participated, both at the DDPM headquarters and via electronic media. The workshop aims to develop a manual on disaster warning, response, alerting, and evacuation, and to support national disaster prevention and mitigation training.
Ms. Chatchadaporn Boonpeeranuch revealed that the major floods that occurred in Songkhla Province at the end of 2025 caused damage across 16 districts, 127 sub-districts, and 997 villages, affecting a large number of people. The management of the situation revealed challenges and obstacles. Recognizing the importance of learning from this crisis, the DDPM organized a workshop to analyze lessons learned from the 2025 flood management in Hat Yai District, Songkhla Province, focusing on emergency management, recovery, and rehabilitation. The workshop brought together representatives from all 18 emergency response agencies under the National Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Plan 2021-2027, including representatives from government agencies, the private sector, local administrative organizations, volunteers, and partner networks-over 50 organizations in total, with 120 participants-to exchange perspectives and experiences. This workshop served as a platform for all participating agencies to share their insights and experiences. Transforming feedback from the field into insightful data is crucial for analyzing problems, obstacles, and gaps in operational practices. The key responsible agencies within the National Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Center (NDPMC) will present their operational results and collaboratively review work processes to analyze challenges and obstacles arising from operations. This includes pre-incident preparedness focusing on accurate forecasting systems and warning communication, emergency management requiring time-sensitive evacuation and assistance for vulnerable groups, relief management, and post-flood recovery. The goal is to identify strengths for improvement and weaknesses for addressing issues, particularly regarding interagency coordination, accessibility for rescue teams, and care for vulnerable populations.
'The goal of this lessons learned is to proactively develop and build upon the accumulated knowledge. The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) will use the data to create clear, efficient, and practical disaster warning and response manuals. We will also improve the warning and evacuation processes to be more concise, accurate, and effectively communicate information to the public, enabling them to prepare in a timely manner. This lays the foundation for long-term public safety. Furthermore, the results of the brainstorming and manual development will be used as a database for conducting a simulated disaster prevention and mitigation exercise in Hat Yai District, Songkhla Province, in June 2026. This will test operational plans in simulated scenarios and ensure that the country's disaster management mechanisms are fully prepared to protect the lives and property of citizens regardless of the type of disaster they face,' Ms. Chatchadaporn stated.