Phuket Governor Nirat Phongsitthaworn this morning (Nov 27) dispatched teams from the Volunteer Defense Corps (OrSor) from in front of Phuket Provincial Hall, assigning them to assist evacuation efforts, transport victims to safety, conduct rescue operations and coordinate directly with Hat Yai authorities.
All personnel are to remain on duty in Hat Yai until conditions stabilise and they receive orders to stand down.
Governor Nirat said the deployment aimed to help alleviate the hardship being experienced in severely affected areas and to strengthen on-the-ground operations as heavy flooding continues in parts of the district.
At 10am today, Vachira Phuket Hospital also mobilised emergency medical teams to Hat Yai and opened a public donation centre to support the response effort.
Dr Weerasak Lorthongkam, Director of Vachira Phuket Hospital, led executives, staff and private-sector partners in dispatching the first team of five medical personnel ‒ including doctors, pharmacists, nurses and nursing assistants ‒ along with essential medicines, medical supplies and first-aid kits.
Additional medical staff from Vachira currently undergoing emergency medicine training in Bangkok also travelled directly to Hat Yai to reinforce local emergency services.
Dr Weerasak noted that the operation was launched in response to a request from Hat Yai Hospital and reflects the hospital’s commitment to providing volunteer assistance wherever needed.
To further support flood-affected residents, Vachira Phuket Hospital has opened a donation centre on the 1st floor of the Emergency and Cardiac Centre (yellow building), accepting dried food, drinking water and daily necessities. All donated supplies will be transferred to Phuket Province and transported to Hat Yai.
Dr Weerasak confirmed that its mobile medical unit is fully prepared to establish a field hospital if required and is equipped to conduct water-rescue operations using boats assigned to the mission by Songkhla Province.
The Phuket Provincial branch of the Department of Disaster of Prevention & Mitigation (DDPM Phuket) this afternoon reported that as of 2pm today (Nov 27) flooding continued to affect nine southern provinces, with 2,953,206 people impacted and 25 fatalities reported.
Phuket has expanded its relief deployment to assist missions in Songkhla, Narathiwat, Phatthalung, Trang, and Satun, including: 265 personnel, 45 ground vehicles, 75 watercraft, including flat-bottomed boats, speedboats and jet-skis; and three high-pressure water pumps.
DDPM Phuket reported that 58 donation centres had now been set up across the island to collect essential supplies for flood victims: Mueang District, 35 locations; Kathu District, 10 locations; and Thalang District: 13 locations.
However, the list posted online still only listed 35 donation points. See updated list here.
Residents are encouraged to donate essential items.