PM in Hat Yai to tackle severe flooding

PRIME Minister/Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul flew to Hat Yai today (Nov. 22) to tackle severe flooding after continuous rainfall since 9.30 p.m. last night led to floodwaters rising waist high in parts of this key southern city, Amarin TV and Thai Rath newspaper said.

Upon arriving at Hat Yai International Airport Anutin was briefed about the situation by Songkhla Governor Ratthasart Chidchu who asked him to urgently arrange for boats and military vehicles to transport and evacuate people with both residents and tourists being affected.

Earlier the Facebook page “National Disaster Warning Foundation” posted a message that many people were stranded at this airport and there is no food and water there with the shops having run out of supplies and could an agency help them.

Anutin instructed local agencies to meet urgent needs of the public including food, shelter, medicine and essential survival equipment. He emphasised that military vehicles and boats be used in critical areas.

Ratthasart told Anutin that floodwaters had gushed into the Hat Yai economic zone with 80,000 people affected.

Rescue centres have been set up at Hat Yai Municipality and other parts of Songkhla province, while the military was asked to open field kitchens as well as provide boats and vehicles to evacuate the residents and deliver relief supplies.

Meanwhile, floodwaters have started flowing into Hat Yai Hospital and at 2.47 p.m. the medical team announced that they could still treat inpatients and emergency cases as usual but as the floodwaters are very high around the hospital emergency patients should only travel by military or government vehicles.

CAPTION:

Hat Yai city badly flooded today and Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul holding a meeting at this southern city’s airport. Photos – Thai Rath