Police have apologised for needing to use a small backhoe to push a dozen flood-damaged cars out of the way at an intersection in Hat Yai, Songkhla, to clear a path for emergency vehicles and to ease traffic congestion after the disastrous flooding.
Police say they will take full responsibility for any damage caused to private vehicles stranded at the Rong Poon Intersection and the U-Tapao Canal Bridge.
If the cars’ owners fail to come forward, however, the vehicles will be moved to the city’s central stadium.
In a statement today, police explained that the vehicles have been obstructing key routes, hampering emergency access and disrupting traffic now that the floodwater has begun to recede.
As the situation improves, many residents are attempting to return home, but numerous vehicles, either left behind during evacuations or swept into place by floodwaters, remain abandoned on roads and bridges.
The statement said that, since November 27th, police have been urging vehicle owners to retrieve any cars that can still be moved.
Meanwhile, officers have been trying to clear debris and reposition as many obstructions as possible, as ambulances and rescue units struggle to pass through.
By November 29th, several flooded vehicles were still blocking roads approaching the intersection, leaving only a single lane for the emergency services.
Police said they had no choice but to clear the route.
While officers were working at the scene, a small backhoe happened to pass by. Traffic police asked the operator for assistance, by gently nudging the partially submerged vehicles to the roadside. About a dozen cars were moved.
The agency explained that the operation only involved moving the vehicles 300 metres at most. No private cars have been removed from the area as yet.
Police will, however, have to relocate all remaining vehicles to the stadium and the parking area of the Prince of Songkla University International Convention Centre soon.
For further information, the public can contact the emergency 191 hotline.
