10,000 PERSONNEL FROM VARIOUS AGENCIES INVOLVED IN HAT YAI POST-FLOOD RECOVERY OPERATIONS

SONGKHLA, Dec 1 (Bernama) -- Nearly 10,000 personnel from multiple agencies have been mobilised for the post-flood recovery efforts in Hat Yai following the major floods that began on Nov 22.

Internal Security Operations Command Region 4 (ISOC-4) spokesperson Colonel Yuttanam Pechmuang said cleaning and restoration works have been underway since November 29 across four main zones, with cooperation from various ministries, government departments, defence units, private companies, volunteers and NGOs.

“Heavy machinery has also been deployed to remove animal carcasses and debris scattered across the roads to ensure aid can move through smoothly,” he said.

“We will expedite the recovery process so that Hat Yai can resume normal activities as soon as possible. The Thai government is also preparing to distribute compensation payments to affected residents soon,” he told Bernama when contacted.

In addition to cleanup work, Yuttanam said the operations also include healthcare services, distribution of hot meals and dry foodstuffs, as well as the provision of clean water supplies across all recovery zones.

Meanwhile, the President of the Hatyai-Songkhla Hotel Association, Dr Sitthipong Sitthiprapha, estimated losses could reach 10 billion baht due to the floods, which have damaged property and tourist sites in Hat Yai.

He said residents and business operators, particularly in Hat Yai, have not yet been able to return to their homes and premises due to extensive damage and ongoing repair works.

“I was contacted by the Interior Ministry for information on hotels that are still able to operate, to be used as temporary accommodation sites for flood victims.

“At present, only 20 out of the 300 hotels in Hat Yai are still operational, and most have been fully booked by officers involved in recovery operations,” he said.

Sitthipong expects recovery work to take between two and three months before all hotels can resume operations.

According to Thai authorities, severe floods in southern Thailand have claimed 145 lives and affected about 3.54 million people.

-- BERNAMA