Thailand begins airlifting critical patients as southern floods kill 33

Southern Thailand is in the grip of a devastating flood crisis, with the death toll reaching 33 and hundreds of thousands facing displacement.

Across nine provinces—including the hard-hit city of Hat Yai—floodwaters have inundated homes, hospitals, and infrastructure, affecting more than 2.7 million people.

At the centre of the emergency is the main government hospital in Hat Yai, where the first floor is submerged and roughly 600 patients—about 50 of them in intensive care—are unable to receive normal medical care.

Airlift and rescue efforts underway

In response, the government has ordered an urgent airlift for critically ill patients. “Today, all intensive care patients will be transported out of Hat Yai Hospital,” said health-ministry official Somrerk Chungsaman.

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Roughly 20 helicopters and 200 boats—including dinghies and flat-bottom vessels—have been mobilised to reach stranded residents and deliver essential supplies.

The nation’s only aircraft carrier, Chakri Naruebet, has also joined the relief effort, providing crucial support: medical personnel, generators, food and more. The navy says the carrier could function as a floating hospital if needed.

Amid the chaos and rising waters, many displaced people are turning to social media pleas for assistance. One resident wrote: “Please help. I’m very worried about my mother,”—she hasn’t heard anything since Saturday, when their supplies dwindled to a single bottle of water and two packets of instant noodles.

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Rescue teams are racing against time as rains continue to lash the region. Weather officials warn of more showers and scattered thunderstorms in the coming days across southern provinces, further complicating relief operations.

A disaster with far-reaching consequences

Authorities say the floods—among the worst the region has seen in decades—have submerged nearly one million homes. The impact spans not only Thailand but neighbouring Malaysia and Indonesia, where floods and landslides have also taken lives.

As rescue operations continue, the country faces mounting challenges: restoring infrastructure, ensuring food and medical supply, and providing shelter to displaced families.