The Thai authorities have officially declared the earthquake that struck on Friday a major disaster.
The decision was outlined in a special statement signed by Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, who has been appointed head of the National Command Center for Disaster Response.
According to the document, the disaster response level has been raised to Level 3 under the national disaster prevention and response plan for 2021–2027. As the head of the center, the interior minister is responsible for coordinating rescue and recovery operations, implementing government decisions, and preparing reports and recommendations for the prime minister.
The National Command Center is currently focused on providing urgent assistance to those affected. Once the situation stabilizes, it will conduct a comprehensive damage assessment, with particular attention to the number of casualties, destroyed buildings, lost livelihoods, and damaged infrastructure. The ultimate goal is to ensure the swift restoration of normal life for the population.
