HAT YAI, THAILAND – Residents trapped by severe flooding clung to overhead cables and pleaded for help online as officials struggled to organize rescues in the southern city of Hat Yai.
Residents flee floods along overhead cables
Local resident Kang Namthip documented what she described as a scene of horror, filming three men balancing along communication lines above the floodwaters. She reported that the water had already risen to the second floor of buildings and that food and drinking water were running out, leaving the situation increasingly hopeless.
“Please have mercy on us. Many lives are still waiting for rescue,”
said Kang, who posted the appeal with her video.
Desperate calls for help via Facebook
Kang repeatedly posted new videos showing the struggle to survive and included her mobile phone number and exact address with each message. She said she had been unable to reach official rescue teams and specified that she was on Phonphichai Road in Hat Yai.
“I cannot get in contact with rescue teams. We are on Phonphichai Road,”
said the desperate resident.
Cut-off neighborhoods and power shut down
According to her accounts, the area in front of Phutthikaram Temple was completely cut off by the floods. Power in the neighborhood had been switched off as a precaution. With large sections of the city isolated, many people felt abandoned as official assistance remained out of sight.
Government faces anger over disaster response
Angry residents directed sharp criticism at the authorities, accusing them of failing to provide support despite earlier evacuation calls.
“We were told to evacuate, but no help was sent,”
said Kang, blaming the government for the lack of assistance.
Raging waters and exhausted volunteers
Floodwaters were reportedly so strong that even experienced rescue teams could hardly get through. The resources of volunteer groups were described as depleted, with many helpers unfamiliar with the local terrain. Without a central coordination mechanism, residents said chaos prevailed and numerous areas were effectively forgotten.
Prime Minister Anutin rejects accusations
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul pushed back against the criticism, insisting that his administration had moved quickly in response to the disaster.
“There were no delays or obstacles in the provision of assistance,”
said the premier.
He added that support from the government and private companies was already on its way, though people in Hat Yai said they had yet to see any visible relief.
Rescue efforts hampered by lack of direction
Volunteer rescuers reported being overwhelmed by the scale of the flooding and the lack of clear instructions. Many were not from the region and did not know the local layout, complicating efforts to reach those in need.
“We urgently need a central unit to tell us where we have to go,”
said one exhausted rescuer.
Central operations center announced
Anutin announced plans for a central operations center in the government district, similar to structures used during the pandemic. However, for those already trapped in flooded buildings, promises of future coordination appeared to offer little immediate relief. They continued to rely on their desperate videos and online appeals as their only remaining lifeline in what they described as a flood hell in Hat Yai.
Questions over disaster management
The events in Hat Yai raised pointed questions about Thailand’s disaster management system and the need for stronger leadership in emergencies. Residents and volunteers alike questioned whether the state could be relied upon or whether grassroots efforts would remain the final line of defense when official structures falter.