The Thai Government recently established the National Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Committee (NDPMC). Our good friend Lt Warodom Sucharitkul who helped establish the Confederation of Fire Protection Associations-Asia and who represents the Building Inspectors Association has been appointed to the Committee.
The Chairman of the committee is the Prime Minister or Deputy Prime Minister assigned by the Prime Minister. Other members appointed to the committee are the Chiefs of the Royal Thai Police, Royal Thai Army, Royal Thai Navy, Royal Thai Air Force and Senior officers from related ministries.
The NDPMC has authority to provide government advice National Disaster Prevention and Mitigation. The NDPMC has recently approved the National Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Plan 2021–2027. One of the key strategies is to promote international partnerships in disaster risk management.
An early activity for the members of the committee has been the recent Ming Dih Chemical Co factory in Bang Phli district of Samut Prakan on the outskirts of the Thai capital, near Suvarnabhumi airport.
A huge explosion and fire destroyed a factory producing plastic foam and plastic pellets and caused extensive damage to surrounding communities.
The facility was completely destroyed by the explosion. In addition, ten factories within a radius of 500m were damaged and houses within a radius of 10km were destroyed or damaged resulting in urgent evacuations.
An inspection team of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM), Prawet District Office, Building Inspectors Association, Chang Thai Jai Arsa Foundation and the Structural Engineers Association was established to survey the damage to houses and surrounding areas.
For more information, go to www.disaster.go.th
