Picture courtesy of NNT

 

Thailand has activated a round-the-clock "war room" for real-time monitoring and disaster management as a powerful storm approaches. This urgent measure comes after warnings from the Thai Meteorological Department about heavy rain expected in several northern provinces due to Typhoon Wipha's proximity to northern Vietnam on July 21–22.

 

Interior Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, acting as National Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Commander, announced that the North and Northeast should prepare for intense rainfall on July 22–23, potentially causing a rise in the Mekong River's levels. A combination of a low-pressure trough and moist air from the Andaman Sea is forecast to result in widespread precipitation.

 

Phumtham has instructed the Ministry of Interior to vigilantly track weather changes, assess risks, and ensure transparent public communication to avert misinformation. Interior Ministry Permanent Secretary Unsit Sampuntharat has asked provincial leaders to focus on areas receiving over 90 millimetres of rain, regions prone to flooding, and places with inadequate drainage.

 

Officials are tasked with fortifying riverbanks, removing water blockages, and adjusting reservoir management for efficient water flow throughout the waterways. We are preparing emergency services, equipment, and communication channels for swift action. Citizens in high-risk zones are advised to safeguard property and be ready to evacuate if required.

 

Passakorn Boonyalak, Director-General of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, revealed that a high-level “war room” meeting convened multiple agencies, including the TMD, the Office of the National Water Resources, the Royal Irrigation Department, and GISTDA, to evaluate Typhoon Wipha’s potential threats.

 

The TMD has issued warnings for Chanthaburi, Trat, Ranong, and Phangnga provinces, alongside parts of the Central and Northeastern regions. The TMD urges those living near slopes, waterways, and lowlands to remain vigilant against flash floods and water runoff.

 

As of 4pm Sunday, the TMD reported that Wipha was a tropical storm located in Guangdong province, China. Predicted to affect Thailand with heavy rain from Sunday through Thursday, the storm, coupled with the southwesterly monsoon, is expected to impact the North, the upper Northeast, the western Central Plain, the East, and the southwestern coast.

 

Thailand has implemented weather-related precautions and emergency measures to prepare for potential flood risks and heightened river levels in the coming days.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from [source] 2025-07-21

 

 

Chiang Rai, some 10 years ago had a large programme of constructing drainage channels, within the city along with a major dam just downstream of the city to control water drainage. 

 

Last year the city suffered catastrophic flooding. 

 

The drainage channels have for several years been, and remain, clogged with vegetation. Of the 11 "gates" on the dam, only 3 work. They have brought mobile cranes in in an attempt to get some of the rest open.

 

Maintaining the dam and clearing the channels...

From reports:

This typhoon has hit Hong Khong with heavy downpour but not as devastating as other typhoons.

It's been downgraded to tropical storm.

So hope for the best.

Another "war room"; Thailand seems obsessed with creating "war room", but seem to always seem to loose the "war".

 

Maybe if they changed tactics, and formed a group of experts without military connections things would work better.

1 hour ago, JimHuaHin said:

Another "war room"; Thailand seems obsessed with creating "war room", but seem to always seem to loose the "war".

 

Maybe if they changed tactics, and formed a group of experts without military connections things would work better.

Makes a change from all "the hubs" that they have created 

1 hour ago, JimHuaHin said:

Another "war room"; Thailand seems obsessed with creating "war room", but seem to always seem to loose the "war".

 

Maybe if they changed tactics, and formed a group of experts without military connections things would work better.

At least they try to do something. Just sad they have to get so much complains

Spelling police post removed @petermik

9 hours ago, webfact said:

 

Thailand has activated a round-the-clock "war room"

 

STORM WIPHA approaching from the east, Sir!

 

 

6 hours ago, KhunBENQ said:

From reports:

This typhoon has hit Hong Khong with heavy downpour but not as devastating as other typhoons.

It's been downgraded to tropical storm.

So hope for the best.

Saw a video of it passing through Hanoi... devastating damage.

If that hit Thailand it would be tragic.

And what crap are they talking about now Northern North Northern Vietnam comes across Lao and Northern Thailand not the south

6 hours ago, JAG said:

Chiang Rai, some 10 years ago had a large programme of constructing drainage channels, within the city along with a major dam just downstream of the city to control water drainage. 

 

Last year the city suffered catastrophic flooding. 

 

The drainage channels have for several years been, and remain, clogged with vegetation. Of the 11 "gates" on the dam, only 3 work. They have brought mobile cranes in in an attempt to get some of the rest open.

 

Maintaining the dam and clearing the channels...

TIT.

 

What are maintenance and repairs?

6 hours ago, JAG said:

Chiang Rai, some 10 years ago had a large programme of constructing drainage channels, within the city along with a major dam just downstream of the city to control water drainage. 

 

Last year the city suffered catastrophic flooding. 

 

The drainage channels have for several years been, and remain, clogged with vegetation. Of the 11 "gates" on the dam, only 3 work. They have brought mobile cranes in in an attempt to get some of the rest open.

 

Maintaining the dam and clearing the channels...

 

If there is a Thai word for maintenance, it doesn't get used much...

4 hours ago, petermik said:

Makes a change from all "the hubs" that they have created 

Are you sure?   A hub of war rooms!!!

12 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

Saw a video of it passing through Hanoi... devastating damage.

If that hit Thailand it would be tragic.

 

 They never do though, do they?

 Most of the rain gets emptied on the Vietnamese mountains before it gets here...

4 hours ago, Gottfrid said:

At least they try to do something. Just sad they have to get so much complains

Oh, I agree, they "try".  BUT, and it is a big but, there are (for memory) 31 Thai government departments, institutions, organisations, bodies, etc. all concerned with water management, including flood mitigation.  Each of these 31 organisations have their little/big silos, so they do  not want to concede actions/resources to others, and need to consult their Bangkok-based bosses before action is taken (maintaining the "organisation" is more important than achieving the published goals of the organisation).

 

A very rare exception was the June-July 2018 Tham Luang Cave rescue, where then the Governor of Chiang Rai Province, Narongsak, was give almost absolute power.  Nevertheless, after the successful rescue he was transferred to a "lower position" (ie demoted) as his actions and decisions to achieve a successful rescue had upset some powerful people when he did not follow their "advice/orders".

I'd love to be a fly on the wall. "Duh, what should we do now"...

Interior Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, ......

 

I thought Anutin was Minister of the Interior and Phumtham the current Acting Prime Minister.

But that's Thai politics for you, appointments change faster than they can be recorded.😋

Springs into Action

 

Now that is clever

12 hours ago, webfact said:

Picture courtesy of NNT

 

Thailand has activated a round-the-clock "war room" for real-time monitoring and disaster management as a powerful storm approaches. This urgent measure comes after warnings from the Thai Meteorological Department about heavy rain expected in several northern provinces due to Typhoon Wipha's proximity to northern Vietnam on July 21–22.

 

Interior Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, acting as National Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Commander, announced that the North and Northeast should prepare for intense rainfall on July 22–23, potentially causing a rise in the Mekong River's levels. A combination of a low-pressure trough and moist air from the Andaman Sea is forecast to result in widespread precipitation.

 

Phumtham has instructed the Ministry of Interior to vigilantly track weather changes, assess risks, and ensure transparent public communication to avert misinformation. Interior Ministry Permanent Secretary Unsit Sampuntharat has asked provincial leaders to focus on areas receiving over 90 millimetres of rain, regions prone to flooding, and places with inadequate drainage.

 

Officials are tasked with fortifying riverbanks, removing water blockages, and adjusting reservoir management for efficient water flow throughout the waterways. We are preparing emergency services, equipment, and communication channels for swift action. Citizens in high-risk zones are advised to safeguard property and be ready to evacuate if required.

 

Passakorn Boonyalak, Director-General of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, revealed that a high-level “war room” meeting convened multiple agencies, including the TMD, the Office of the National Water Resources, the Royal Irrigation Department, and GISTDA, to evaluate Typhoon Wipha’s potential threats.

 

The TMD has issued warnings for Chanthaburi, Trat, Ranong, and Phangnga provinces, alongside parts of the Central and Northeastern regions. The TMD urges those living near slopes, waterways, and lowlands to remain vigilant against flash floods and water runoff.

 

As of 4pm Sunday, the TMD reported that Wipha was a tropical storm located in Guangdong province, China. Predicted to affect Thailand with heavy rain from Sunday through Thursday, the storm, coupled with the southwesterly monsoon, is expected to impact the North, the upper Northeast, the western Central Plain, the East, and the southwestern coast.

 

Thailand has implemented weather-related precautions and emergency measures to prepare for potential flood risks and heightened river levels in the coming days.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from [source] 2025-07-21

 

 

What no Hub 😱😱😱

9 hours ago, KhunBENQ said:

From reports:

This typhoon has hit Hong Khong with heavy downpour but not as devastating as other typhoons.

It's been downgraded to tropical storm.

So hope for the best.

Folks are dropping their guard because it has been downgraded from a Typhoon to a Tropical Storm (TS). But they should NOT! The winds may have dropped a few MPH but that has nothing to do with the rainfall. The strength of the storm has dropped because it went over land but it just got back over water and will increase in strength by 15mph (from 50 to 65 mph) winds before it hits land again on the 22nd. The storm will take a due westerly track and clip Northern Thailand instead of a direct hit on Chiang Mai which is a good thing. But the but the outer bans of the storm will still reach Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai and bring heavy rains to the Ping river. Luckily the outer bans contain the least rain. 

" War Room " 🤣

4 hours ago, JimHuaHin said:

TIT.

 

What are maintenance and repairs?

 

 

makes them official

Run the video

https://zoom.earth/maps/precipitation/#view=15.787,103.058,6z/model=icon/date=2025-07-23,13:00,+7

Bangkok will surely sink into the Gulf Of Thailand - as the mega-storm of the century skirts Northern freakin' Laos.  Bangkok is doomed.  Head for the hills.  We need a Thai Mike Seidel holding on to a coconut tree to keep from being blow away as Thais walk normally in the background.  

 "Cringe in fear lowly commoners!!!" 


https://zoom.earth/maps/satellite/#view=15.57,108.26,5z/place=16.720385,108.347168

14 hours ago, JimHuaHin said:

Another "war room"; Thailand seems obsessed with creating "war room", but seem to always seem to loose the "war".

 

Maybe if they changed tactics, and formed a group of experts without military connections things would work better.

They are properly using war in regards to this. These weather events are all MANipiulated now. Man has controlled the weather since the vietnam war, at least. The war is against US..  the rabble.  You will own nothing and die from the 💉💉💉...

Is this stuff going to become more extreme year-on-year...parts of Chiang Mai turned into 5-foot deep swimming pools with no events like that for 20 years or so previously.

18 hours ago, David T Pike said:

Folks are dropping their guard because it has been downgraded from a Typhoon to a Tropical Storm (TS). But they should NOT! The winds may have dropped a few MPH but that has nothing to do with the rainfall. The strength of the storm has dropped because it went over land but it just got back over water and will increase in strength by 15mph (from 50 to 65 mph) winds before it hits land again on the 22nd. The storm will take a due westerly track and clip Northern Thailand instead of a direct hit on Chiang Mai which is a good thing. But the but the outer bans of the storm will still reach Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai and bring heavy rains to the Ping river. Luckily the outer bans contain the least rain. 

Here in Chiang Rai the Kok river that goes through the northern part of the city is already at a high level.  More rain could cause more flooding like last year.  It was almost a week without clean water from the city since the flooding caused the filtering system to get clogged with mud.

The ping river is very, very long and has many smaller creeks, streams and rivers that flow into the Ping north of Chiang Mai from all the way from Chiang Dao near Laos. 

Mae Taeng River: A major tributary that contributes to the Upper Ping. 

Mae Rim River: Another important tributary flowing into the Upper Ping. 

Huai Mai Faek: A significant river that merges with the Upper Ping. 

 

   The remnants of Wipha Typhoon is headed to northern Thailand area and will arrive on Thursday and dump plenty of rain north of Chiang Mai. We need to keep and eye on the Pings level and pray it does not go over 4.2 meters...