Thai Ministry of Transport Orders Southern Airports to Prepare for Heavy Rain and Flooding

Key summary

The Thai Ministry of Transport has directed all airports in the southern region to develop emergency plans following a Meteorological Department forecast of continuous heavy rainfall across ten provinces from October 23 to 26, 2026. The affected provinces are Ranong, Phang Nga, Phuket, Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phatthalung, Songkhla, Satun, Yala, and Narathiwat. Airports are instructed to monitor water levels and rainfall, deploy staff for 24-hour surveillance, inspect drainage systems, pumps, backup power, runways, taxiways, and aprons, and coordinate with air traffic control, the Electricity Authority, disaster prevention agencies, and airlines. Operations may be restricted or suspended if safety is compromised, with continuous updates provided to pilots and passengers, prioritizing passenger safety.