Samut Songkhram:Mr. Nirat Pongsitthaworn, Director-General of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM), announced that the Prime Minister has instructed the transfer of the first tranche of flood relief funds within this week. This decision follows the Cabinet's approval of 4.7 billion baht for flood relief efforts across the nation. Additional funds can be requested if necessary, and officials are actively providing assistance and registration support to vulnerable groups in shelters.

According to Thai News Agency, the Samut Songkhram provincial governor has requested water pumps due to critical flooding conditions. This province, located downstream of the Mae Klong River, now faces a reduced water discharge rate of 900 cubic meters per second, down from 2,000 cubic meters per second. The discharge rate is expected to remain stable at this level.

In Kanchanaburi and Ratchaburi provinces, the flood situation has improved, but efforts to expedite drainage into the Mae Klong River continue. In response to the situation in Samut Songkhram, the Royal Thai Navy and DDPM personnel have been dispatched to provide assistance.

Mr. Nirat confirmed that compensation payments, as directed by the Prime Minister, are set to be disbursed this week. The Cabinet-approved funds have been transferred to the Government Savings Bank, and once verification is complete, the payments will be deposited into recipients' bank accounts. The DDPM has an agreement ensuring that those meeting the criteria first will receive payments promptly.

Regarding the sufficiency of the 4.7 billion baht budget, Mr. Nirat expressed concerns, noting that it is unlikely to cover all affected areas. The Prime Minister has stated that additional funds can be requested if needed. Provinces meeting the criteria can submit requests immediately without waiting for other groups.

The additional budget, if requested this year, will utilize the current year's budget, with the government already allocating 4.7 billion baht for the 2026 budget. Over 1 million people have registered for relief payments swiftly, though there have been challenges due to the volume of applicants.

For vulnerable groups such as the elderly or those who missed the registration deadline, officials will be deployed to shelters to assist with the registration process.