Thai Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul ordered the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) to operate a daily flood-response war room from Sept. 30, with 8am briefings involving national agencies and provincial governors. Bangkok, the central region and surrounding provinces remain at risk as high water obstructs drainage, requiring coordination among Bangkok, the Royal Irrigation Department and the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand. Anutin said residents primarily wanted floodwater removed quickly and that food and broader assistance had improved after earlier shortages of meals, electricity and water. He also defended handing cash to residents in Bangkok’s Sai Mai district on Sept. 29 after relief bags ran out, saying the money came from him personally, was less than half his salary as prime minister and had no political purpose.