Bangkok: The Ministry of Transport has initiated a significant relief effort, deploying a caravan carrying 7,000 relief bags to aid regions affected by severe flooding. The operation, led by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport Mr. Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, alongside Ms. Mallika Jiraphanwanich, Deputy Minister of Transport, and Mr. Chaiyatham Promsorn, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Transport, aims to provide critical support and restore disrupted transportation routes swiftly.

According to Thai News Agency, the flooding has severely impacted residents and transportation infrastructure across several areas. The Ministry of Transport, with its affiliated bodies such as the Department of Highways, Department of Rural Roads, Marine Department, Department of Land Transport, and Department of Airports, has pooled resources to deliver comprehensive aid. The relief caravan comprises trucks and vehicles loaded with relief bags, drinking water, and essential supplies, destined for evacuation centers and flood-isolated communities. This effort is crucial for provinces in the lower and central Chao Phraya River basins, including Ayutthaya, Ang Thong, Uttaradit, Sukhothai, Phitsanulok, and Phichit, which are grappling with rising water levels due to the increased discharge from the Chao Phraya Dam.

Mr. Phiphat emphasized the Ministry’s dual focus on providing immediate relief and repairing damaged transportation routes, including roads, waterways, and railways, to resume normal operations swiftly. The Transportation Safety Operations Center has reported that 217 transportation networks are affected nationwide, with 10 routes currently impassable. The Ministry is committed to ensuring that assistance reaches affected areas promptly and is ready to provide transportation support around the clock.

For assistance or travel inquiries, the public can contact the Transportation Safety Center at 1356, the Department of Highways at 1586, the Department of Rural Roads at 1146, the State Railway of Thailand at 1690, and the Marine Department at 1199.