Volunteer rescuers pour into Hat Yai to help stranded flood victims

Volunteer emergency response teams from numerous foundations across the country have joined forces in a spontaneous show of solidarity and brotherhood to help flood victims in Hat Yai, especially those trapped in their heavily-flooded houses without food or drinking water and who are waiting to be evacuated.

Volunteers from Thailand’s two major foundations, Ruam Katanyu and Por Teck Toeng, have been on the ground for the past few days, evacuating stranded people and distributing food and drinking water to those who are yet to be evacuated due to strong currents and a shortage of jet skis, the only way to navigate the currents.

An additional 50 volunteers, with four flat-bottom boats, two mobile kitchens, 15 pickup trucks, 100 life vests and 100 solar panels, left Bangkok last night for Hat Yai. They also took with them ten bags of food for dogs and cats, which are also suffering from the flooding.

The Mitraparb Samakkhi foundation in Hat Yai has been coordinating and cooperating with the Por Teck Toeng foundation in the flood relief operations.

Chaiyong Khupenvichittrakarn, chairman of Pluak Daeng foundation in Rayong province, said he had sent ten veteran volunteers and two boats to Hat Yai, after some southerners in Rayong sought help from his foundation.

Volunteers from the Sawang Uttayanthammasatharn Association, in Pan Thong district of Phitsanuloke, also felt for Hat Yai yesterday. “The wheels have started turning now. Our men and women are on their way to help flood victims. God protect the flood victims. We, Thai people, do not abandon each other,” according to a post on social media.

Another online post from a volunteer organisation in Chiang Mai reads: “We are filling up our fuel tanks at the last petrol station as we approach the disaster zone. Once we arrive, we will announce where we are and you can ask for help.”

Prasit Thongtthitcharoen, chairman of the Sawang Boriboonthammasatharn Foundation in Pattaya, said he has sent volunteers and flat-bottom boats to help in the evacuation operations.

Panadda Wongphudee, a celebrity volunteer, said her foundation is soliciting donations of canned food, fish sauce, instant noodles, tissue paper, toothpaste, sanitary napkins, garbage bags and pampers for babies to be sent to those in need in the southern provinces.

People can send their donations to the office at 52/19 Moo 4, Tambon Pak Kood, Thanyaburi district of Pathum Thani or call 065-0086739 every day from 9am to 5pm.

A team of jet-ski drivers from the Thailand Jet-ski Association, with four jet-skis, are also on their way to Hat Yai.