251 Thai children went missing from home last year

21 Sept 14:03 Key points summarised by AI

A total of 251 Thai children went missing last year, marking a four-year high and a 25% increase from 2021, as reported by the Mirror Foundation.
Most missing children (61%) were runaways, while 21% had mental health issues; the 11-15 age group was most affected, with Bangkok recording the highest number of cases.
Authorities admit tracing missing children is challenging, as they are highly vulnerable to exploitation and human trafficking, prompting police to prioritize their safe return.
Police recommend parents take preventative measures, such as carrying contact information, and warn against leaving young children unattended; new age progression sketching techniques are being used to aid long-term tracing efforts.

Government to start building Chainat-Pasak-Gulf water diversion canal next year

Yesterday 14:58 Key points summarised by AI

Thailand's government will launch the "Chainat-Pasak-Gulf" water diversion canal project in fiscal year 2027, a seven-year mega-infrastructure initiative.
This permanent structural solution aims to mitigate recurrent central plains flooding by diverting water from the Chao Phraya River directly into the Gulf of Thailand, significantly reducing flow to major cities like Ayutthaya and Bangkok.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul justifies the long-term investment as a means to reduce future damages and fiscal burdens, contrasting it with the 40-50 billion baht spent annually on short-term flood relief.
Concurrently, the Prime Minister instructed officials to expand drainage capacity into the Tha Chin River and swiftly remove water hyacinths to improve immediate flood management.