ASIAN DISASTER REDUCTION CENTER Visiting Researcher Program (FY2022) Thailand Country Report 2022 ADRC Visiting Researcher SOPHITA THANYALAKMETHA Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) Ministry of Interior, Thailand
This report was compiled by an ADRC visiting researcher (VR) from ADRC member countries. The views expressed in the report do not necessarily reflect the views of the ADRC. The boundaries and names shown and the designations used on the maps in the report also do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the ADRC.

1.1 Geographical Data
Thailand, officially the Kingdom of Thailand where lies in the heart of Southeast Asia, has a land area of 513,120 sq.km. It is bordered by Myanmar (West & North), Laos (North & East), Cambodia (Southeast), and Malaysia (South). The Thai coastline stretches for 3,219 km along both the Gulf of Thailand on the Pacific side, and the Andaman Sea on the Indian Ocean side. The highest point in Thailand is Doi Inthanon, at 2,565 meters (8,415 feet). The lowest point is the Gulf of Thailand, at sea level. Thailand is divided into four regions; the North, the Central or the Chao Phraya River Basin, the Northeast or the Korat Plateau and the south or the Southern Peninsula. The northern region terrain is mountainous which render this region to be prone to water- related disasters such as flashflood, landslide and debris flow. The northeastern region is an arid area on Korat Plateau and frequently suffers flashflood and inundation during rainy season, severe drought and cold spell during summer and cool season. The central region, the vast fertile land which is dubbed as the "Rice Bowl" of the country often encounters the repeated riverine flood and urban inundation during the rainy season. The southern region terrain is hilly on the west coast and the coastal plain on the east. This part of Thailand has occasionally frequented flashflood, mudslide, tropical storm and forest fire.
1.2 Climate Information
Thailand's climate is influenced by monsoon winds that have a seasonal character (the southwest and northeast monsoon). The majority of the south as well as the eastern tip of the east have a tropical monsoon climate. Parts of the south also have a tropical rainforest climate. A year in Thailand is divided into three seasons. The first is the rainy occurs from mid–May to mid–October, which is caused by southwestern wind from the Indian Ocean. Second is winter occurs from mid–October until mid–February. Most of Thailand experiences dry weather with mild temperatures. The last is summer runs from mid–February until mid–May. Due to their inland position and latitude, the north, northeast, central and eastern parts of Thailand experience a long period of warm weather, where temperatures can reach up to 40 °C (104 °F) during March to May, in contrast to close to or below 0 °C (32 °F) in some areas in winter. Southern Thailand is characterised by mild weather year-round with 3 less diurnal and seasonal variations in temperatures due to maritime influences. It receives abundant rainfall, particularly during October to November. Thailand is among the world's ten countries that are most exposed to climate change. In particular, it is highly vulnerable to rising sea levels and extreme weather events.
1.3 Demographic Data
Population Total 66,090,475 (in 2022), about 32.2 million males and 33.8 females. (Department of Provincial Administration, 2023) The growth rate -0.14 (in 2022), Birth rate 7.6 births/1,000 population, Death rate 9 deaths/1,000 population, Life expectancy 77.66 years (male 74.65 years and female 80.83 years), Fertility rate 1.09 children. Thailand become  an  aged  society  by  2025.  The Fiscal Policy  Office projects  that  the  number  of  Thais aged 60-plus will increase from 14% in 2016 to 17.5% in 2020, 21.2% in 2025, and 25.2% in 2030 (Bangkok Post 2016). The national language is Thai. Lao is spoken along the borders with the Lao PDR, Karen  languages are  spoken  along  the  border  with  Myanmar, Khmer is  spoken near Cambodia and Malay is spoken in the south near Malaysia. Sixty-two 'domestic' languages are officially recognized, and international languages spoken in Thailand, primarily by international workers, expatriates and business people, include Burmese, Karen, English, Chinese, Japanese, and Vietnamese, among others. The official of religion is Buddhism 93.5%, 5.4% Islam, 1.13% Christianity, 0.02% Hinduism and 0.003% No religion
1.4 Administrative Divisions
A hereditary monarch serves as Thailand's head of state. The current King of Thailand is Vajiralongkorn (or Rama X), who has reigned since October 2016. Thailand's current Prime Minister is Gen. PRAYUT Chan-ocha, was appointed prime minister in August 2014. The country comprises 76 provinces (changwat, singular and plural) and Bangkok (special administrative area); Amnat Charoen, Ang Thong, Bueng Kan, Buriram, Chachoengsao, Chai Nat, Chaiyaphum, Chanthaburi, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Chon Buri, Chumphon, Kalasin, Kamphaeng Phet, Kanchanaburi, Khon Kaen, Krabi, Lampang, Lamphun, Loei, Lop Buri, Mae Hong Son, Maha Sarakham, Mukdahan, Nakhon Nayok, Nakhon  Pathom,  Nakhon  Phanom,  Nakhon  Ratchasima,  Nakhon  Sawan,  Nakhon  Si 4 Thammarat, Nan, Narathiwat, Nong Bua Lamphu, Nong Khai, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Pattani, Phangnga, Phatthalung, Phayao, Phetchabun, Phetchaburi, Phichit, Phitsanulok, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Phrae, Phuket, Prachin Buri, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Ranong, Ratchaburi, Rayong, Roi Et, Sa Kaeo, Sakon Nakhon, Samut Prakan, Samut Sakhon, Samut Songkhram, Sara Buri, Satun, Sing Buri, Sisaket, Songkhla, Sukhothai, Suphan Buri, Surat Thani, Surin, Tak, Trang, Trat, Ubon Ratchathani, Udon Thani, Uthai Thani, Uttaradit, Yala, Yasothon. The provinces are divided into 878 districts (amphoe), 7,255 rural administrative subdistricts (tambon), 75,086 villages (mooban). Types of government administrations are the central, provincial and local.
2. Disaster in Thailand
Due to its geographical location, Thailand has been highly exposed and vulnerable to natural disaster caused by hydrometeorological hazards such as floods, landslides, storms, droughts, etc. The major disaster that had occurred and claimed hundreds of lives as well as causing significant material loss in Thailand during the ten years period are delineated as follow. Disaster Statistical Data (1) Storms Chart 1 : Storms Statistics during 2011 – 2020 (2) Flood Chart 2 : Flooding Statistics during 2011 – 2020
(3) Drought
Chart 3 : Drought Damages Statistics during 2011 - 2020 7 Chart 4 : Fire Statistics during 2011 - 2020
(5) Forest Fires and Haze
Chart 5 : Bushfire Statistics during 2013 - 2020
In Thailand, from 3 January 2020 to 4:16pm CET, 31 January 2023, there have been 4,726,984 confirmed cases of COVID-19 with 33,865 deaths, reported to WHO. As of 10 November 2022, a total of 137,976,764 vaccine doses have been administered. Thailand Situation 4.726.99 confirmed cases deaths Source : World Health Organization (2023). Available from : https://covid19.who.int/region/searo/country/th (2023, February 1) Chart 6 : COVID-19 statistics situation in Thailand
3. Recent Major Disasters
Typhoon Noru (September 2022)
Typhoon Noru was an intense tropical cyclone that affected Vietnam, Thailand and Philippines. The heavy rain caused severe flooding and landslides across parts of Thailand. Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) reported that 37 districts in 18 provinces in North Northeast and Central region have been hit by flooding between 22 – 26 September 2022. Around 4.000 people were evacuated, 4.348 households were affected and 3 people were deaths. The heavy rain has continued since then, causing further flooding and rivers to rise. The authorities issued warnings for communities close to the Chao Phraya river and Pa Sak river on 2 nd October. Until 5 th October the rivers were above critical level in 38 locations, mostly in Northern and central provinces. DDPM reported floods and flash floods occurred in 25 provinces with approximately 156,240 households affected 4 deaths and 2 injuries.

National Disaster Risk Management Plan 2021 - 2027
As the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Act B.E. 2550 [A.D. 2007] Section 44 “In case of any changes of disaster prevention and mitigation facts as specified in disaster prevention and mitigation plans under this act, or if those plans have been used for five years. Those responsible persons who oversee the formulating of plan shall have to revise or review that plan rapidly.". The National Disaster Risk Management Plan 2015 has been used complete it's period, so the National Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Committee work on to revise the new plan. The plan has been completely revised and the cabinet has approved the National Disaster Risk Management Plan 2021 – 2027 on 5 July 2022. National Disaster Risk Management Plan 2021 – 2027 has the purpose to be a concept of operation in handing national disaster management actions for all relevant agencies. The Plan consolidated the National Strategy, the National Economic and Social Development Plan, Disaster Risk Management Framework as SMART DRM for 3s : SEP – SDGs – SFDRR which is Sufficiency Economy Philosophy, Sustainable Development Goals and Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015 – 2030 that for achieve the vision which is “Thai society has the potential to reduce the existing disaster risk and prevent the new disaster risk efficiently to achieve sustainable safety, stability, and state of disaster resilience of nation.". The plan consists of two parts; effective disaster risk reduction and standardized disaster management with an important goal to drive the management of country meet the standard and ready for emergency situations. National Disaster Risk Management Plan 2015 The Plan will serve as a tool for reducing the impact of disaster, realizing disaster risk management standards in every community as well as for further integrating disaster risk reduction thinking and methods into the national sustainable development process. In addition, the Plan is a master plan for provinces and districts to develop the Provincial/ District Disaster Risk Management Plans, as well as Provincial/District Multi-Hazard Specific Action Plans on Disaster Risk Management for the purpose of directing, coordinating, and providing support for disaster management efforts of the local administrative organization.
5. Counterpart of ADRC
Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, Ministry of Interior Address: 3/12 U-Thong Nok Road, Dusit, Bangkok 10300 THAILAND. Tel: +66 2243 5279 Fax: +66 2243 5279 E-mail: foreign.dpm.th@gmail.com Website: www.disaster.go.th.
6. References
DDPM. (2011). The Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Act B.E. 2550 (2007) and relevant supportive legislations. Bangkok: Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation. DDPM. (2015). National Disaster Risk Management Plan. Bangkok: Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation. DDPM. (2019).  DDPM Report 2019. Bangkok: Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation. DDPM. (2022). National Disaster Risk Management Plan 2021 - 2027. Bangkok: Department of Disaster Prevention and mitigation. Department of Provincial Administration (2023). Administrative Information. Available from : https://www.dopa.go.th/main/web_index Paweewun, Oranan; Sirimai, Pawee (11 November 2016). "Resetting the economy". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 12 November 2016. World Health Organization (2023). Thailand situation (COVID - 19). Available from : https://covid19.who.int/region/searo/country/th (2023, February 1). PANOOTTIKORN, L. (2018). Thailand's country profile 2018. Kobe,Japan: ADRC.