HAT YAI, THAILAND – Eight days after devastating floods receded, the southern city of Hat Yai remained overwhelmed by a million tons of rotting debris and uncollected waste.
Debris estimate surged to one million tons
Initial official estimates of 200,000 tons of flood debris were revised sharply upward by experts and city cleaning crews. They reported that the floods had in fact left behind about one million tons of waste, far exceeding the city’s capacity to cope. Less than 40% of this volume had been removed eight days after the waters went down, leaving the situation described as out of control.
Over 100 districts still choked with waste
Cleanup work had so far focused mainly on the city’s main roads, leaving many residential areas largely untouched. In 103 communities and neighborhoods, piles of rubbish continued to mount, while narrow alleys lacked small vehicles needed to remove the waste. The garbage had begun to rot and smell, and under the sun the top layer dried into health-threatening dust that residents were breathing in.
Senator warns of health crisis and renewed flooding
Senator Chaiyong Maneerungsakul warned of a looming double disaster. The decomposing waste was described as an ideal breeding ground for disease, while the city’s canals were still clogged with mud and trash. Heavy rain was forecast for 14 December, raising fears of another major inundation.
“If the canals are blocked when the rain comes, Hat Yai will be flooded again.”
said Chaiyong Maneerungsakul, senator.
Slow progress blamed on planning and logistics
Multiple factors were cited for the sluggish pace of clearance. Many residents were only able to start cleaning their homes after water supply had been restored, adding fresh waste every day. Some streets had to be cleared several times, stretching the city’s limited capacity, while poor planning left garbage heaps blocking key traffic routes, causing congestion that further delayed collection.
Residents endure stench, dust and anxiety
Life in the worst-hit neighborhoods had become almost unbearable, with many residents wearing protective masks to shield themselves from bacteria and pollutants. The air was thick with the smell of decay and fine dust, adding to the psychological strain on people who had already endured the flooding. City authorities faced mounting criticism for failing to get the crisis under control, and public pressure was growing by the day.
Race against time before new rains
With only a few days left before 14 December, canals needed to be urgently cleared to avert the worst consequences of the coming rains. Officials were called on to secure small machinery for use in narrow lanes and to overhaul the waste collection logistics. Hat Yai stood on the brink of a second catastrophe, and whether the city could prevent it remained highly uncertain as time ran out.