Bangkok: Captain Patthadarasmi Thongsalooykorn, Deputy Spokesperson for the Prime Minister's Office, has clarified that the death toll from the recent floods in Nan province is four, not over 100 as falsely circulated on social media. The misinformation is identified as fake news intended to garner public attention at the expense of the affected community.
According to Thai News Agency, the confirmed fatalities include three civilians and one official from the Friends Helping Friends Foundation (Pha Yiam Yak) of the Thai Red Cross Society, who died during a relief mission. The cause of the official's death is under medical investigation.
Captain Thongsalooykorn urged the public to refrain from spreading unverified information, emphasizing that exaggerated news only causes panic and distress among victims and their families. The floods, which occurred from August 19-22, 2026, impacted 7 districts, 42 sub-districts, and 356 villages in Nan Province. A total of 23,827 households and 67,129 people experienced damage.
The government is actively engaged in recovery efforts, including infrastructure repair and cleanup, as water levels recede. Professor Dr. Yotsanu Wongsawat, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, has instructed governors of 17 northern provinces to monitor social media closely and ensure accurate information dissemination to prevent public alarm.
The Deputy Spokesperson reiterated the importance of verifying information with official sources during public disasters and assured that the government is committed to providing comprehensive relief and support to restore normalcy to the affected areas swiftly.