On May 25, government spokesperson Mr. Jirayu Huangsub announced that Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has been closely monitoring the flood situation in Mae Sai District, Chiang Rai Province. Reports indicate that flash floods have severely impacted several areas, especially four key communities: Saim Lom Joy, Ko Sai, Mai Lung Khon, and Muang Daeng.
Initial public health assistance is underway, with the Ministry of Public Health deploying district health teams and hospitals as directed by the Prime Minister. These teams are addressing both physical and mental health needs, distributing first aid kits, and coordinating support for 94 vulnerable individuals through village health volunteers. Additionally, seven bedridden patients were temporarily relocated to relatives’ homes.
Mr. Jirayu stated that Mental Health Crisis Assessment and Treatment Teams (MCATT) have also been dispatched to visit affected homes, offer encouragement, distribute cleaning kits, and provide environmental hygiene advice in shelters and residences. Hospitals in the area have set up care centers for bedridden patients and the vulnerable, with capacities ranging from 8 to 24 beds, and have established communication channels for medical assistance, drug supply coordination, and emergency response stations stocked with medicine, medical supplies, and survival kits.
The Prime Minister also expressed concern over possible arsenic contamination from the floods. Initial tests by the Department of Health and the Department of Medical Sciences found arsenic levels exceeding the standard in surface water from the Kok River in Mae Ai District, Chiang Mai, and six districts in Chiang Rai—Mueang, Chiang Saen, Mae Chan, Wiang Chai, Wiang Chiang Rung, and Mae Sai. However, no arsenic contamination was found in tap water, crops, fish, or the urine of at-risk individuals, and no arsenic-related illnesses have been reported.
The Prime Minister emphasized the utmost priority on public health and safety, ordering comprehensive assistance and strict monitoring of water, food, and public health conditions to fully support affected citizens.