Shocking! District Chief’s boat capsizes while rescuing disaster victims

Rescuers help rescue boat belonging to the Hod District Chief after it capsized while braving strong currents to help victims, while other areas in Chiang Mai are rushing to evacuate people who are still stranded.

The Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Foundation rescue team in Pattaya, Chon Buri Province, helped Mr. Chakraphan, the District Chief of Hot, Chiang Mai Province, and his team, whose boat capsized in the midst of strong currents while they were wading through the water to help evacuate victims in Nong Phueng Subdistrict, Saraphi District. The boat was a flat-bottomed boat with 13 people on board, including villagers who were affected by the disaster. After the boat capsized, the passengers on the boat all survived by floating and clinging to trees. Initial reports indicate that all 12 people are safe, but there are reports of one missing person, a woman, and pets of villagers who were brought on the boat to evacuate have drowned, including two cats and a rabbit. The missing persons have been found and
officers are in the process of rescuing them.

Evacuate over 50 people – help a cow in the middle of a rapid river

In Nong Phueng Subdistrict, Saraphi District, officers from the Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Foundation in Pattaya City helped herd a nearly 100-kilogram cow that was floating in the middle of a rapid current to a higher ground. The area was heavily flooded, with water levels about 1-2 meters high. Wat Chiang Saen and residents’ homes were turned into a sunken city, causing severe hardship. Many families wanted to leave their homes, while some did not dare to leave their homes because they were worried about their belongings. They fled to the second floor to seek food, drinking water, and medicine. Officers provided survival kits and helped evacuate more than 50 people, most of whom were children, women, and the elderly.

Rescuers lower ropes through rapids to help victims

The Hook 31 Korat rescue team braved the strong current to help people affected by the flood in Soi Pracha Uthit 8, the eco
nomic zone of Chiang Mai Municipality, Chiang Mai Province, where the water level was more than 1.50 meters high. The water flooded houses almost to the roof. People had to climb out and sit on the wall, waiting for help. Many people looked exhausted because they had not eaten for more than 3 days. The current was so strong that forklifts and boats could not get through. The rescuers had to lower ropes to the shore where the victims were waiting before putting on ziplines and floating across the river. Although it was difficult, all the victims were safely rescued.

Wade through the water to help Thais and foreigners trapped in a house in Chang Klan area

The Huk 31 Korat rescue team also used drones to capture images of the floodwaters that overflowed into Chiang Mai city to plan an operation to help those stranded in their homes. In the images, the economic area on Chang Klan Road was flooded over a wide area. The rescue team went to the Kamphaeng Ngam community, where it was reported that hundreds of Thais
and foreigners were stranded. In some places, the water level was over 2 meters high. The victims had to climb out onto the second-floor balcony and step on the shoulders of rescuers to get into the rubber boats. The victims included men and women, elderly foreigners, and young children. Another point was the Rakang community, where they helped evacuate 6 foreigners and 1 child from the area safely.

Source: Thai News Agency