Flood survivors hanging on despite conditions

Flood survivors in southern Thailand hanging on despite conditions

SURAT THANI PROVINCE, Thailand: An altered, almost unrecognizable landscape of roofs, treetops and oil palms.

The Tapi River overflowed its banks inundating the city of Surat Thani, 650 kilometres south of Bangkok.

Unseasonable heavy precipitation caused major flooding in 10 southern Thai provinces and over a week later, some people are still living without power and clean water.

So far, it has claimed 53 lives and forced 40,000 people to flee their homes.

The Thai Air Force in Surat Thani has multiple missions a day to deliver food, medicine and drinking water to victims.

These are by far the worst floods in recent memory.

Group Captain Saridporn Soonthornkit, Base Commander of Wing 7 with the Royal Thai Air Force, said: "Normally the water level may be just one metre high, but this flood we can see in some places is two or three metres (in) depth."

A helicopter mission to one of the more isolated areas draws victims in small boats, who try and hold on against the wind. Relief supply bags are tossed from above, bearing the royal cipher of Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn.

This relief trip, however, is cut short by approaching rain. But the base commander said the next step is to reach people by boat.

Relief workers distribute supplies to people who have held on a week or more in desperate conditions. They have opted to stay to guard against thieves and said they are hanging on.

"I heard reports of robberies taking place (in flooded houses), so I have to stay to keep watch (over my home)," said one of the survivors.

"We can't stay here but we come to make sure. I heard some of the houses here have been robbed. Thank you so much for coming to help," said another.

But authorities fear that there are people who may have died, trapped in their homes or drowned unable to escape the floods.

-News courtesy of Channel Newsasia-