The greatest disaster in 300 years has struck Hat Yai. Is the government’s response delayed or is the situation difficult to control? From day one, local residents voiced concerns about failed flood assessments—lessons that must never be repeated.
The "Rain bomb" phenomenon in Hat Yai district, Songkhla province, has turned into a major national disaster, severely impacting local residents. Our team urgently deployed to the area to assist those affected.
From the incident, it is clear that residents remain deeply worried about their homes. The volunteer teams are overwhelmed, resulting in many residents still waiting for help. Coupled with shortages of food and essential supplies, the community is suffering greatly. Some have received aid but remain concerned for family members still trapped inside their homes.
Interviews with volunteer teams revealed frustration over the limited government assistance. They pointed out that preparations should have included tents, medical units, shelters, and food supplies from the outset.
Strong, fast-flowing currents posed significant challenges to the volunteer teams, whether using boats or jet skis. While our team was on site, we witnessed these difficulties firsthand.
To uncover the reasons behind this major disaster, our investigative team met with the Director of Water Management and Maintenance at the Royal Irrigation Department Office 16 to discuss issues highlighting flawed situation assessments. Despite forecasts, the Hat Yai Municipality’s Flood Prevention and Mitigation Center issued a statement only 48 hours before the flood declaring the situation "normal, green flag."
This represents a grave failure in disaster management, forcing hundreds of thousands in Hat Yai to suffer loss of life and property. The damage is estimated at no less than 10 billion baht.
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