Hat Yai flood aftermath feels like 'the end of the world'

A Democrat Party MP described the scene in Hat Yai today as “apocalyptic” on the first day that floodwaters have receded and residents, who had been trapped in their homes for days, were finally able to leave, searching for food, clean water and medical assistance.

Official shelters at several locations in Songkhla have become overcrowded with people whose homes and belongings were destroyed by the flooding.

Saksit Khaothong, an MP for Songkhla, posted on his Facebook page today, along with photos, saying, “This is Hat Yai today. It looks like the end of the world.”

People are scrambling for food, evacuation centers are disorganised, corpses have floated in and have to be placed along the roadside and the cries of people in distress lasted through the night.

He shared images of people lining up for food being distributed from military trucks, overcrowded shelters and a body covered with a white sheet.

“I have witnessed all of this with my own eyes over the past three days,” he wrote. “The loss is too great to forget. Those who survived are living as if they were dead. Is this really what we deserve? I truly cannot accept it.”

The devastating floods, which hit southern Thailand earlier this week, have left hundreds displaced and caused severe damage to homes and infrastructure in the region. Local authorities are struggling to provide sufficient shelter, food and medical aid to those affected.

Many people interviewed by the media say that they had been stuck in their houses for days, without food or water, and complained that no authorities had come to assist them.

In response, the Public Health Ministry has set up seven 50-bed field hospitals. One such, at Prince of Songkla University (PSU) will be managed directly by the Department of Medical Services.

Officials expect all field hospitals to be fully operational by the end of the day.

Flu vaccines and other essential medical supplies will be sent to the affected areas, to meet the needs of residents needing care after the floods.

In addition, Mobile Emergency Response Teams (MERT and Mini MERT) have been deployed to reach accessible areas, assess the situation, provide treatment, distribute medicine and evacuate patients.

Mental Health Crisis Assessment and Treatment Teams (MCATT) from the Department of Mental Health are also being sent to assist those affected by the disaster.