File photo for reference only

 

The Director-General of the Department of Provincial Administration has announced the removal of the Hat Yai District Chief, Eak Young-Apai Na Songkhla, due to severe flooding in Songkhla. Effective November 26, he is reassigned to assist at the Institute of Administration Development. This shift aims to improve public administration amidst criticism over the flood response.

 

The decision follows recent severe flooding in Hat Yai, Songkhla, marking the worst flood in years, which began earlier this week. The local government's response was heavily criticized, prompting this leadership change. This move is intended to address the public's concerns about how the situation was handled.

 

Experts suggest the flooding was exacerbated by inadequate infrastructure and poor planning. Residents voiced frustration over the government's slow and insufficient response. The decision to remove the district chief reflects an official acknowledgment of these issues and a step toward addressing them.

 

Moving forward, the Department of Provincial Administration will likely focus on revising emergency protocols and repairing community trust. Eak Young-Apai Na Songkhla’s reassignment may also signal further organizational changes as the situation evolves, reported The Nation.

 

Key Takeaways

• Hat Yai District Chief reassigned after severe flooding.
• Criticism arose over inadequate flood response.
• Changes signal an effort to improve crisis management.

 

Related Stories

Helicopter Crash in Hat Yai Raises Confusion Amid Flooding

PM Criticized for Slow Flood Response in Hat Yai

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Nation 2025-11-27

 

 

 

just another band aid action to make it appear as though something is being done. Proper flood mitigation works planning, especially for 1 in a 100 year floods, seems to beyond the capabilities of Thais, not just in Hat Yai, but across all of Thailand. 

In our area we have not only the river, but many klongs, that flood annually during the wet season. The fix they think will stop the flooding, dig up the klongs and place cement walls and floor. The problem is the make them 1/2 the width and 1/2 the depth they were previously, which results in more flooding that before. Nothing is done to build levees along the river in the areas that flood every year and impact on both farmland and peoples homes.

Also it seems that even though some areas are known flood plains, housing and businesses are still permitted to build in those areas.

 

Surely the responsibility stops at the top; remove Anutin.

First response to public display of long-term institutional incompetence: Find a scapegoat.

2 minutes ago, TigerandDog said:

Also it seems that even though some areas are known flood plains, housing and businesses are still permitted to build in those areas.

Same in Australia. Cheap land for poorer people to build on ...

15 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The Director-General of the Department of Provincial Administration has announced the removal of the Hat Yai District Chief, Eak Young-Apai Na Songkhla, due to severe flooding in Songkhla. Effective November 26, he is reassigned to assist at the Institute of Administration Development. This shift aims to improve public administration amidst criticism over the flood response.

Re-assigned... says it all.

Re-assigned to an important step up to an inactive post

The only country where you fark up and nothing happens......

The District Head's hasty removal combined with 'suggested' factors contributing to it could be due to these possible explanations:

 

His shortcomings were already well-known to his superiors.  So did not need any investigation; and/or

 

A scapegoat was needed.  I.e. the buck stops there, at the lower level.  No need to look any higher.

That was odds-on, now they start again with a clean slate...........🙄

Removal of district chief = public administration improvement? 

 

Seams more like a scapegoat case

On 11/27/2025 at 5:15 PM, snoop1130 said:

File photo for reference only

 

The Director-General of the Department of Provincial Administration has announced the removal of the Hat Yai District Chief, Eak Young-Apai Na Songkhla, due to severe flooding in Songkhla. Effective November 26, he is reassigned to assist at the Institute of Administration Development. This shift aims to improve public administration amidst criticism over the flood response.

 

The decision follows recent severe flooding in Hat Yai, Songkhla, marking the worst flood in years, which began earlier this week. The local government's response was heavily criticized, prompting this leadership change. This move is intended to address the public's concerns about how the situation was handled.

 

Experts suggest the flooding was exacerbated by inadequate infrastructure and poor planning. Residents voiced frustration over the government's slow and insufficient response. The decision to remove the district chief reflects an official acknowledgment of these issues and a step toward addressing them.

 

Moving forward, the Department of Provincial Administration will likely focus on revising emergency protocols and repairing community trust. Eak Young-Apai Na Songkhla’s reassignment may also signal further organizational changes as the situation evolves, reported The Nation.

 

Key Takeaways

• Hat Yai District Chief reassigned after severe flooding.
• Criticism arose over inadequate flood response.
• Changes signal an effort to improve crisis management.

 

Related Stories

Helicopter Crash in Hat Yai Raises Confusion Amid Flooding

PM Criticized for Slow Flood Response in Hat Yai

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Nation 2025-11-27

 

 

 

One of the fat rich ruling local families, who only got the position because of family, definitely not for being the smartest, he chose to ignore severe weather warnings, which resulted in 100’s of deaths!!!! 
now fat boy has lost face , but I bet he’s eaten every day, unlike most of the poor locals there!  Corrupt Thailand strikes again!

On 11/28/2025 at 8:26 AM, JimHuaHin said:

Surely the responsibility stops at the top; remove Anutin.

Never happen in Thailand  !!  nobody will say they are Responsible  how many years have they have had flood plans ?? but typical Thailand nothing happens , now the excuse was the telephone and internet down could not communicate  well you need to stop your citizens using the cables as walkways to stop getting wet  they say this was a 300yr flood which is BS it happens every year