File photo for reference only

 

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul is facing mounting criticism over his government’s handling of unprecedented flooding in Hat Yai, Songkhla. The slow response and perceived unpreparedness have severely impacted public confidence, raising significant political implications with national elections on the horizon in 2026. Anutin has resorted to invoking special emergency laws to manage what has been described as the most critical disaster the area has faced, but criticism persists regarding the timeliness and effectiveness of these measures.

 

The crisis in Hat Yai is not an isolated incident, as the region has experienced flooding issues for decades. However, the scale of this disaster is unprecedented, exposing potential gaps in the government's preparedness and response strategies. Critics argue that earlier and more accurate weather warnings could have better prepared residents, preventing entrapment and minimizing property and economic losses. The incident has spotlighted questions about the government's capacity to issue timely alerts and adequate evacuation directives.

 

The response from Prime Minister Anutin has drawn skepticism, with some viewing his actions, such as public appearances and cooking for residents, as political maneuvers rather than genuine crisis management. Critics assert that these efforts fall short of addressing root causes and implementing long-term solutions. Experts suggest that without proper strategic planning, the government risks repeating similar failures in future disasters.

 

As Thailand gears up for elections in 2026, this flooding event may serve as a critical test of the Anutin administration's crisis management capabilities. The political reverberations could influence voter perceptions, particularly among those directly affected in the south. The government's immediate focus remains on resolving the current crisis, but the challenge will be to rebuild trust and demonstrate competence in handling future national emergencies, reported The Nation.

 

Key Takeaways

• Anutin criticized for delayed flood response amid disaster.
• Critics question government readiness and strategic planning.
• Upcoming elections may be influenced by crisis management.

 

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Thai government forms flood response center to handle severe floods

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Nation 2025-11-26

 

 

 

The South is not important for the Government as it seems that only Bangkok and Chiang Mai are the cities they care for.. Besides that it is not only Anutins mistake but from all previous Government inclusive Prayuth too.. Nothing is be done to prevent future floodings and as soon as the problems are solved again, the same will happen... nothing, and next year the same problems.. When there is voting next year I hope that the people will remember that the army based Governments have abandoned them for years already and vote for Government that is willing to do anything to prevent this every year

It seems that the south of the country gets forgotten anything too  do with the fact that a high percentage of people are Muslims.

 

As for the flooding ,the  BBC is saying they have sent the Aircraft carrier down, they, I would like to know how they got that up and running so quickly, considering it has been a floating tourist attraction, for the past 20??? years.

2 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

When there is voting next year I hope that the people will remember that the army based Governments have abandoned them for years already and vote for Government that is willing to do anything to prevent this every year

 

Under Prayuth, not only my village but the main roads outside had new larger sewer pipes put in place. His government also increased local embankment levels along the canals. My house and village is much, much better off after Prayuth than before.

Hat Yai is the 5th largest city in Thailand and the largest city in southern Thailand so its not chop liver by any means. the slow response and inadequate assistance from these clowns is reprehensible! 

Regardless of the higher population of Malay and Chinese population, they are still Thai citizens and deserve the same treatment and respect as the rest of the country. 

Once again, Thai authorities have shown their incompetence on the world stage. 

These events have clearly shown the incompetence of the Anutin Government.

 

The lack of timely appropriate response also highlights Bangkok's xenophobia.

 

The differences in the Government and government responses to the recent and current flooding in Central Thailand and the current situation in Southern Thailand is crystal clear.

Thailand has failed their citizens again and the world is watching

with elections due early next year this could decide who the next PM will be

13 hours ago, kickstart said:

It seems that the south of the country gets forgotten anything too  do with the fact that a high percentage of people are Muslims.

 

As for the flooding ,the  BBC is saying they have sent the Aircraft carrier down, they, I would like to know how they got that up and running so quickly, considering it has been a floating tourist attraction, for the past 20??? years.

go with the tide ?

16 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Prime Minister Anutin cooking for residents

Mama noodles?

Pathetic for a country with such a big heart on army, you would expect to already see 10k soldiers deployed. This is virtually one of the few real use cases of a army to begin with... They can't even organize 100 dinghy's or other types of small boats to extract people from flooded houses and once again those who are doing a lot are foreigners on top. I'm a rescue diver too but knowing it would just be chaos I can't be even bothered anymore by more Thai drama.

 

Wait, am I repeating myself again from last year with CM floods? I could just recycle my comments lol.

A missed opportunity. He could have showed those golden wings on his chest mean somthing by parachuting from a Thai Air Force C130 into the affected area and be seen to organising effective rellief supplies.

 

Long term members will recall heavy flooding in the south over a decade ago when the TV Channel 3 news anchor Sorayuth took his team, bagged relief supplies and flat-bottom boat overnight and broadcast his early morning news live from a platform surrounded by flood water whilst his teams boated around delivering pre-prepared sacks of neccessities to victims. Loss of face for the government at that time who were slow to respond.

 

They never forgot and charged him years later with financial crime and he served jail time.

5 minutes ago, PETERTHEEATER said:

A missed opportunity. He could have showed those golden wings on his chest mean somthing by parachuting from a Thai Air Force C130 into the affected area and be seen to organising effective rellief supplies.

 

Long term members will recall heavy flooding in the south over a decade ago when the TV Channel 3 news anchor Sorayuth took his team, bagged relief supplies and flat-bottom boat overnight and broadcast his early morning news live from a platform surrounded by flood water whilst his teams boated around delivering pre-prepared sacks of neccessities to victims. Loss of face for the government at that time who were slow to respond.

 

They never forgot and charged him years later with financial crime and he served jail time.

They send a helicopter to throw some water down a rooftop pool, that's about as good as it gets.. 99% fuel and 1% supplies. I'm sure anutin shows up with one of those fancy rain boots soon, to do a photo op and take a chopper back to Bangkok, they always do that. If lucky he might wave to the people too.

38 minutes ago, Coxy said:

Thailand has failed their citizens again and the world is watching

with elections due early next year this could decide who the next PM will be

I'd suggest that the 2026 election result has alredy been decided and not by the people who will cast their votes.

1 hour ago, Coxy said:

Thailand has failed their citizens again and the world is watching

with elections due early next year this could decide who the next PM will be

Maybe but for sure there will be interference, they just can't help themselves! 

Politics is an amazing example of how people forget an individual’s past performance and expect them to be better … this time…It is a worldwide problem. Anutin during the covid crisis , Anutin and the cannabis farce, Anutin and the Foreigners.. lol 

Instead of shouldering his responsibilities during a natural disaster, maybe he's focused more on artificially strengthening the baht, the time is right, the high season is almost here, and more foreigners to fleece.

3 hours ago, JimHuaHin said:

These events have clearly shown the incompetence of the Anutin Government.

 

The lack of timely appropriate response also highlights Bangkok's xenophobia.

 

The differences in the Government and government responses to the recent and current flooding in Central Thailand and the current situation in Southern Thailand is crystal clear.

Yes, even for Anutin and his merry bunch of elites, it is shocking. Where is the Army? They just put out a request for urgent public help with boats and jet skis - saying they would transport them to the affected areas. But the cooking photo-op is irksome - people need rescuing. Reminds me of the pathetic respose of the U.S. government to Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans.

19 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The crisis in Hat Yai is not an isolated incident, as the region has experienced flooding issues for decades. However, the scale of this disaster is unprecedented, exposing potential gaps in the government's preparedness and response strategies

The government will do what they always do, show-up eventually for a photo op with bags of rice and bottled water.

Then disappear to let flooded owners clean up their own mess.

17 hours ago, John Drake said:

 

Under Prayuth, not only my village but the main roads outside had new larger sewer pipes put in place. His government also increased local embankment levels along the canals. My house and village is much, much better off after Prayuth than before.

I would agree, Prayuth was a much more effective PM than corrupt Anutin. The poor flooded folks in the South will not be voting for Anutin or his corrupt money laundering Blue Party next year. 

17 hours ago, John Drake said:

 

Under Prayuth, not only my village but the main roads outside had new larger sewer pipes put in place. His government also increased local embankment levels along the canals. My house and village is much, much better off after Prayuth than before.

Where??? Buriram???

There no money to be made.  So why help?  You have to sweeten the pot.

The government's response has been embarrassingly glacial. Quite a bit of "show" and very little "go".

 

For some reason, the Military was also slow to respond.

 

I saw a video from a shelter where a woman was giving Anutin a poor performance review.

 

 

 

 

I'm still wondering if the anonymous meteorologist that predicted this back on Nov 18th, and was shunned by the TMD and government as "fake news",  wasn't actually a government employee going against superiors and trying to warn the masses.

11 hours ago, JimHuaHin said:

These events have clearly shown the incompetence of the Anutin Government.

 

The lack of timely appropriate response also highlights Bangkok's xenophobia.

 

The differences in the Government and government responses to the recent and current flooding in Central Thailand and the current situation in Southern Thailand is crystal clear.

 

And who were the mental giants that blessed Thailand with this Prime Minister?

Must be global warming, sponsored by the WHO. 

Maybe Malaysia could seize the opportunity to capture the South before the Thai army can paddle in.

 

Seriously though, what a disgraceful response by the Thai authorities.

19 hours ago, ChaiyaTH said:

Pathetic for a country with such a big heart on army, you would expect to already see 10k soldiers deployed. This is virtually one of the few real use cases of a army to begin with... They can't even organize 100 dinghy's or other types of small boats to extract people from flooded houses and once again those who are doing a lot are foreigners on top. I'm a rescue diver too but knowing it would just be chaos I can't be even bothered anymore by more Thai drama.

 

Wait, am I repeating myself again from last year with CM floods? I could just recycle my comments lol.

Yep. The issue was lack of boats and jet-skis and competent teams to operate them and get stuck in.