An emergency response team from Chiang Mai province has suspended its rescue and evacuation operations after its volunteer jet-skiers were shot at twice by unidentified hot-tempered flood victims in Zone 8 of Hat Yai district on Tuesday night.
In the first incident, at about 5pm, as many as 20 gunshots were heard. At about 8pm, four more were heard. At 3am this morning, more shots were heard. No jet-skiers were injured and it is not known whether the shooter(s) intended to harm them, or simply wanted to vent frustration after being trapped by floodwaters for several days.
It is not known how many residents in Zone 8 are trapped in their flooded houses, but most of them have no food or drinking water because the area remains inaccessible due to strong currents.
The gunfire has prompted the team’s leader, from San Kamphaeng district of Chiang Mai, to suspend operations pending talks with stranded residents to provide them with a better understanding of the obstacles being encountered by the emergency response teams.
Responding to the incidents, some netizens in Hat Yai posted on social media, explaining that Zone 8 is notorious for petty crime and gun misuse.
Police, the military and representatives of emergency teams are due to meet today to develop a plan to get teams back into Zone 8.
A member of a volunteer team said in a TikTok post last night that emergency response teams have encountered multiple problems in the course of their operations.
First, she said, many of them have come from other provinces, such as Chiang Mai, Chon Buri and Rayong, and they are not particularly familiar with Hat Yai, adding that when they receive calls or text messages for help, they have no idea where the victims are.
The second problem is submerged vehicles, she said, adding that jet-skis have to navigate carefully to avoid hitting these hidden hazards.
Furthermore, sometimes, the skiers have to accelerate to overcome the strong currents, which causes their wakes to wash into nearby houses. She explained that, if the skiers slow down, floating trash, such as plastic bags, may become entangled the engines causing them stall.
She also said she wants frustrated flood victims to understand that most jet-skiers are unpaid volunteers there to help, and they have to dig into their own pockets for pay for the fuel and to bear the maintenance costs if their jet-skis are damaged.
