Rescuers in Hat Yai face gunfire and threats while aiding flood victims

HATYAI - Rescue teams in Hat Yai are facing danger on the ground as some volunteers encounter threats and gunfire while assisting flood victims in severely affected areas.

The situation developed amid widespread flooding that continued to isolate communities in southern Thailand.

Several rescue groups reportedly experienced alarming situations while carrying out aid efforts in the Songkhla province.

According to The Thaiger, the incident took place at "Area 8", one of the worst-hit zones where residents had been cut off from food and clean water.

Rescuers from across the country had been deployed to the southern region to strengthen operations, but they faced significant challenges.

Rescue teams from across Thailand are mobilised to assist thousands of flood victims in the country’s south. Photo: Agency

Tension first arose on Tuesday when a volunteer from Surat Thani claimed that an unidentified man fired three shots into the air in an attempt to intimidate him.

A more serious situation occurred on Wednesday night when the San Kampaeng Rescue Foundation from Chiang Mai was forced to halt its operation after an armed individual fired more than 20 shots towards their boat.

Despite the severity of the incident, there were no injuries or fatalities.

The flood disaster, which began on Monday, had already submerged 10 southern provinces including Surat Thani, Krabi, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Trang, Phatthalung, Satun, Songkhla, Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat.