Refuting Online Fake News Lin Mingjing: No Major Flood in Southern Thailand

(Thailand, 23rd) — In response to a message circulating on social media claiming that "Southern Thailand experienced a 300-year record rainfall, 33 people have died, and the Thai government has declared a state of emergency," Lin Mingjing, Public Relations Officer of the Southern Thailand Tourism Association, has solemnly pointed out that the content is fake news and does not match the current situation in Thailand.

He stated that this is misleading and false information, urging netizens and tourists not to believe or forward it. In fact, the current major flooding is occurring in Northern Thailand.

He stated that this is misleading and false information, urging netizens and tourists not to believe or forward it. In fact, the current major flooding is occurring in Northern Thailand.

Lin Mingjing mentioned that weather information released by the Thai Meteorological Department on August 22nd showed that there are still heavy rains in some parts of Thailand, with the northern and central regions possibly experiencing localized torrential downpours. Authorities have also reminded the public to be alert for flash floods, river overflow, and landslides caused by accumulated rainfall.

"Therefore, taking the flooding situation currently faced in the North and spreading it as 'a 300-year record rainfall in Southern Thailand' and even claiming that 33 people have died, clearly confuses locations and creates panic."

He said that the related short videos circulating online recently, together with eye-catching words such as "government declares state of emergency," can easily cause alarm, especially affecting tourists planning to visit Hat Yai, Phuket, Krabi, and other southern Thai tourist areas.

Lin Mingjing stressed that southern Thai tourism operators have always closely monitored weather changes and official safety notifications, and tourists should not be misled by an unverified video on the internet into thinking the entire Southern Thailand region is facing a major flood.

"We urge tourists to rely on the latest information released by the Thai government, Thai Meteorological Department, and relevant local authorities, and not to judge the local disaster situation solely based on short social media videos or unverified screenshots."

He also called on social media accounts that posted such content to correct and delete the false messages in a timely manner, to prevent the continued spread of misinformation and unnecessary panic affecting the southern Thailand tourism industry and local residents.