Hat Yai, Songkhla –
A video from Hat Yai has captured the desperation of flood victims forced to climb across overhead communication cables to escape rising waters, showing the severity of southern Thailand’s latest flood crisis and the urgent need for accessible relief.
The footage, posted on social media this week by local resident Kang Namthip, shows three to four villagers inching their way along tangled telecommunication lines strung between utility poles. Beneath them, floodwaters surged nearly to the second floor of nearby homes, making boats and foot travel perilous.
The post included a plea for help: “Floodwaters have reached the second floor. Food and drinking water are running out. We cannot reach any agencies.” Emergency contact numbers were shared alongside the video.
The clip quickly went viral, sparking alarm and debate online. Viewers expressed shock at the extreme risks residents were forced to take, highlighting both the scale of the disaster and the gaps in emergency response. Hat Yai’s low-lying neighborhoods, particularly those along canals, have been inundated by widespread flooding, leaving many communities stranded and vulnerable.
Local authorities in Songkhla province have since mobilized relief operations, focusing on delivering food, clean water, and evacuating vulnerable groups such as children and the elderly. Yet the viral images serve as a reminder of the challenges in disaster management: ensuring aid reaches every corner of affected areas swiftly and safely.
As floodwaters show little sign of receding, the sight of villagers clinging to fragile cables above the torrents has become a haunting symbol of survival — and a call for stronger, more coordinated disaster preparedness in Thailand’s flood-prone south.
VIDEO: Kang Namthip
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