Senate committee advocates for increasing earthquake relief funds
Below is a fresh, rewrite of the article, incorporating elements from the enrichment data while maintaining an informal and straightforward tone:
Hey there! Let's talk about the recent developments concerning the compensation for victims of the March 28 earthquake in Thailand.
Senator Alongkot Worakee and his committee are looking to propose an upgrade in support for those affected by the disaster. On Monday, they convened to discuss the compensation process for injured, deceased, and property-damaged individuals.
It's been reported that over 32,000 people have requested aid, but only around 878 cases have been approved within the 30-day deadline from the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation. This is due to the detailed nature of building inspections, which can be quite time-consuming.
The Labor Ministry has also shared that nearly 200 businesses in 23 provinces were impacted by the earthquake. One of the most devastating incidents was the collapse of the new State Audit Office building in Bangkok, resulting in 47 deaths and eight injuries.
The committee has expressed concerns over the low compensation amounts reported by quake victims. Some have received as little as 70 to 300 baht, barely enough to cover administrative costs.
Currently, compensation follows 2020 guidelines, capping payments at 49,500 baht per damaged home, regardless of its market value. However, victims have the right to appeal if they're not satisfied, and unresolved appeals can progress through administrative courts.
Following the meeting, Senator Alongkot announced the committee's intentions to seek assistance from the Ministry of Interior and the Council of Engineers to deploy more personnel to inspect damaged buildings in Bangkok. This is because the current staff is insufficient to address the scale of the damage.
For families of those who died in the earthquake, a revised relief package has been introduced, offering 100,000 baht in funeral support per victim, equal compensation for individuals with permanent disabilities, and reimbursement of uncovered medical expenses. This compensation has already started being disbursed to verified claimants as of mid-April 2025.
All in all, there's growing dissatisfaction with the current compensation levels, and calls are being made to increase financial aid for earthquake victims. The Senate committee is lobbying the Cabinet to support this effort, pointing out the delays in assessments and advocating for higher compensation rates.
Sources:
[1] Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM): Compensation for private homes and condos damaged by the earthquake is capped at 49,500 baht per unit and does not cover communal property repairs. The compensation process involves submitting evidence, filing reports, and undergoing damage assessments by district offices before approval and reimbursement.
[2] Senator Alongkot Worakee’s committee: Proposals and lobbying efforts are underway to increase compensation due to concerns over low payout amounts and slow processing.
[3] Funeral support for deceased victims: 100,000 baht has been introduced as part of a revised relief package, which also includes compensation for permanent disabilities and medical reimbursements.
[4] Compensation appeals: Victims have the right to appeal their compensation amounts, including through administrative courts if necessary.
- Senator Supakrit and his committee are aiming to boost the support for victims of the March 28 earthquake, concerned about the low compensation amounts they've been receiving.
- The committee is seeking help from the Ministry of Interior and the Council of Engineers, aiming to deploy more personnel for building inspections in Bangkok, as the current staff is insufficient to address the scale of the damage.
- In the realm of policy-and-legislation, Senator Alongkot's committee is lobbying the Cabinet to increase financial aid for earthquake victims, citing concerns over delays in assessments and advocating for higher compensation rates.
- General-news sources report thatthe revised relief package for families of the deceased includes 100,000 baht in funeral support per victim, equal compensation for individuals with permanent disabilities, and reimbursement of uncovered medical expenses.
- Personal-finance experts suggest that earthquake victims should consider budgeting to cover unexpected expenses and research their options for additional compensation, as the current payouts may not be sufficient.
