 "Thailand begins airlifting critical patients as southern floods kill 33 – Firstpost")
In nine provinces – including the hard-hit city of Hat Yai – floodwaters have inundated homes, hospitals and infrastructure, affecting more than 2.7 million people.
Southern Thailand is in the grip of a devastating flood crisis, with the death toll reaching 33 and thousands facing displacement.
In nine provinces—including the hard-hit Hat Yai city—floodwaters have inundated homes, hospitals and infrastructure, affecting more than 2.7 million people.
At the center of the emergency is Hat Yai’s main government hospital, where the first floor is submerged and about 600 patients – about 50 of whom are in intensive care – are unable to receive normal medical care.
Airlift and rescue efforts continue
In response, the government has ordered immediate airlift of critically ill patients. “Today, all intensive care patients will be moved out of Hat Yai hospital,” said Health Ministry official Somrek Chungsaman.
About 20 helicopters and 200 boats – including canoes and flat-bottomed vessels – have been mobilized to reach stranded residents and deliver essential supplies.
The country’s only aircraft carrier, Chakri Naurubet, has also joined the relief efforts and is providing vital aid: medical personnel, generators, food and more. The Navy says that if needed, this carrier can serve as a floating hospital.
Amid the chaos and rising waters, many displaced people are pleading on social media for help. One resident wrote: “Please help. I am very worried about my mother,” – he has not received anything since Saturday, when his supplies were reduced to a bottle of water and two packets of instant noodles.
Rescue teams are racing against time as rain continues to fall in the area. Weather officials have warned of more rain and isolated storms in the southern provinces in the coming days, further complicating relief efforts.
a disaster with far reaching consequences
Authorities say the floods – the worst the region has seen in decades – have submerged about one million homes. Its impact extended not only to Thailand but also to neighboring Malaysia and Indonesia, where floods and landslides have also claimed lives.
As rescue operations continue, the country faces increasing challenges: restoring infrastructure, securing food and medical supplies, and providing shelter to displaced families.
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