Bangkok: Chanin Rungthanakiat, Deputy Secretary-General of the Pheu Thai Party and former Secretary to the Minister of the Interior, has publicly urged the government to clearly define the compensation criteria for flood victims. He emphasized the need for transparency and clarity to ensure that families affected by the recent floods are not left in a state of anxiety.
According to Thai News Agency, Chanin highlighted the government's confirmation that out of 85 reported deaths, only 55 were officially attributed to the flooding. He noted that the government has promised a compensation of 2 million baht per confirmed flood-related death. However, Chanin raised concerns about what qualifies as a flood-related death, questioning whether it includes only those who drowned or were swept away by water, or if it also encompasses deaths of individuals who were bedridden and unable to evacuate, or who suffered medical emergencies such as heart attacks or kidney failure while trapped in their homes.
Chanin cautioned against ignoring public concerns, stressing that the government must not underestimate the flood death toll to avoid political backlash, as this could result in some families being unjustly denied the relief they deserve.