Flood drama in Thailand: rescue workers fight for help!

Flood drama in Thailand: rescue workers fight for help!

The flood disaster in southern Thailand is becoming increasingly dramatic. As floodwaters continue to rise in Songkhla province, particularly in Hat Yai district, there is little light at the end of the tunnel for those affected. Professor Seree Supratid, an expert in climate change and disaster risk reduction, warns that it could take weeks for the water to recede. Over 690,000 people are currently affected, and the government estimates the number of those affected in some way to be several million across Thailand. [Radiowaf] reports that water levels rose by almost two meters on Tuesday morning, further exacerbating the situation.

In Hat Yai, many houses are flooded to the ceiling while people sit on roofs waiting for help. The emergency teams are fighting their way through many areas using only boats. In fact, infrastructure is severely compromised, roads are impassable and civil protection authorities are warning of an impending food crisis as supplies are already running low in the affected areas. To support the rescue effort, the Thai government has mobilized helicopters to deliver food, drinking water and medical supplies. The military has also been called in to help.

Desperate situation in the region

The situation is not only worrying in Thailand. In neighboring Malaysia, almost 10,000 people in Kelantan state find themselves in emergency shelters. Schools and public facilities had to be closed due to the floods. Nature has also shown its power on the Indonesian island of Sumatra: thousands have become homeless here, and it is reported that at least eight people have lost their lives in North Sumatra. The damage caused by floods and landslides is enormous; The authorities are also warning of further landslides as the ground is already heavily soaked. This horrendous weather situation is caused by two weather systems: Tropical Cyclone Koto and another tropical storm system in the Strait of Malacca.

The effects of climate change are already being felt in the region. According to experts, climate models (CMIP6) show that extreme precipitation will increase in Southeast Asia. Studies show that the south of Thailand has the highest rainfall, while the regions in the north are characterized by longer dry periods. Weather-related disasters such as this flood disaster are a striking example of the urgent adaptation strategies necessary to deal with the challenges of climate change. It is high time for those responsible to react in order to avoid such tragedies in the future.

According to many experts, the monsoon-related rain currently hitting the region is the most extreme in decades. With 33 confirmed fatalities and countless injuries so far, civil protection is faced with a huge task. The national tourism authority TAT also fears massive losses as around 8,000 tourists, mainly from Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia, have settled in Hat Yai.

The unbroken force of the natural disaster and the difficult human fates do not leave the population indifferent. It is an appeal to everyone, not only in Thailand but also in neighboring countries, to work together to provide assistance and learn the lessons from this tragedy.

In this context, it becomes clear that climate change is also becoming a reality in Southeast Asia. The study on climatic indices shows that extreme weather events are increasing, presenting the region with key challenges that need to be urgently addressed. [Nature.com] calls for changes in politics and society to avoid such crises in the future.