Anti-Fake News Centre Confirms Northern Floodwaters Flow into Mekong
PUBLISHED: 11 Oct 2024 at 20:55
The Anti-Fake News Centre has clarified statements made by Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, confirming that claims of northern floodwaters not entering the Mekong River are misleading and deemed “fake news.”
This clarification follows an uproar on social media regarding the Prime Minister’s remarks about the flooding situation in Northern Thailand.
On Friday, centre officials stated they consulted with the Office of the National Water Resources. While floodwaters from Chiang Rai do flow into the Mekong, those from Chiang Mai primarily head towards the Ping River and the Bhumibol Dam located in Tak province.
In its statement, the centre set the record straight: “Fake news claims that northern floodwaters did not flow into the Mekong but into the Chao Phraya River, resulting in flooding in the central region and Bangkok.”
The Anti-Fake News Centre’s mission is to combat misinformation across various topics, including political discourse.
The controversy was ignited by Prime Minister Paetongtarn’s statements made during a recent briefing, where she indicated that floodwaters from Chiang Mai would impact the Bhumibol Dam and Mekong River, drawing criticism for potential inaccuracies.
“Floodwater from Chiang Mai will flow to Lamphun and Lampang, but there would be no significant flooding because it will continue to the Bhumibol Dam and the Mekong River,” she stated.
The Anti-Fake News Centre reiterates that some floodwater from Northern Thailand does indeed reach the Mekong, countering any contradicting narratives.
This assertion led to a flurry of responses online, particularly since the Ping River is a tributary of the Chao Phraya River, not the Mekong.
In defense of the Prime Minister, a local media outlet explained that floodwaters originating in certain districts around Chiang Mai would ultimately reach both the Kok River in Chiang Rai and the Mekong in Chiang Saen district. Water from downstream Ping districts would predominantly feed into the Bhumibol Dam.
The media outlet remarked that the Prime Minister’s comments were intended to provide a broad overview that may have led to misunderstandings.
