Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has vowed to remain in Hat Yai to oversee flood relief and evacuation operations, and will return to Bangkok only when the situation eases or if there are overriding matters requiring his presence.
It is reliably reported that the prime minister has cancelled all other business engagements this week.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul flew to Hat Yai again today — his third trip in a week — aboard a C-130 military transport plane, fully loaded with equipment, food supplies, jet-skis and their volunteer drivers, to support flood relief and evacuation operations as the situation remains critical following water spilling over from a reservoir late last night.
The prime minister and his small delegation were briefed on the latest flood situation and evacuation operations at the 42nd Army Circle headquarters, before visiting an evacuation shelter at the stadium of Prince of Songkhla University, followed by an inspection of inundated communities in Hat Yai’s municipal area.
Water began spilling over the edges of the reservoir in the compound of Prince of Songkhla University and flowed into the municipal area at about 2am this morning, an official said, warning that the overflow, compounded by continuous rainfall, may worsen the flood situation.
Meanwhile, a huge rain cloud spotted over southern Malaysia at about 3am today is moving toward Yala and Narathiwat provinces and Sadao district of Songkhla, which is the origin of a canal that flows downstream through Hat Yai into the sea.
Supreme Commander Gen Ukrit Boontanont, appointed by the prime minister to oversee flood relief and evacuation operations in Hat Yai, has set up the Flood Emergency Forward Command Centre at Air Wing 56 in Hat Yai.
The command centre will mobilise and coordinate manpower and equipment from the three armed forces, government agencies and the private sector to support flood relief operations and the evacuation of thousands of people believed to still be trapped in their flooded houses and buildings.
Lt-Gen Wanchana Sawasdee, spokesman for the command centre, said today that the supreme commander will report directly to the prime minister and, if necessary to cope with an emergency situation, he can make immediate decisions.
He said the Royal Thai Air Force has arranged for three flights into Hat Yai, and helicopters from the Royal Thai Navy will be used to transfer patients from heavily flooded hospitals as a first priority.
A female patient suffering from heart failure and dependent on a respirator was airlifted by helicopter today from Bangkok Hat Yai Hospital to Songklanagarind Hospital for treatment.
