PM and Supreme Patriarch chair ceremony to consecrate sacred water

13 Sept 15:17 Key points summarised by AI

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and the Supreme Patriarch jointly presided over a ceremony consecrating sacred water at Wat Suthat Theppawararam.
Interior Minister Anupong Paochinda led the procession of sacred water, collected from 77 provinces, major rivers, and sacred ponds, to the temple for sanctification.
This consecrated water is designated for HM King Maha Vajiralongkorn's purification bathing rite during the upcoming Coronation Ceremony on May 4th.
Separately, a rehearsal for the elaborate Royal procession, "Liab Phranakhon," involving over 1,300 soldiers, was conducted around Rattanakosin Island in preparation for the coronation.

Flooding persists in Bangkok and 22 provinces

Today 16:00 Key points summarised by AI

Persistent flooding continues across Bangkok and 22 Thai provinces, though water levels are gradually receding in many affected areas.
Over 604,000 families, impacting approximately 1.83 million people, are still grappling with the widespread flood conditions.
The national flood death toll has reached 80 since mid-September, with fatalities reported across various provinces.
Major regions like Pathum Thani, Ayutthaya, and Bangkok report significant numbers of affected households, with hundreds of thousands still in trouble.