A total of 822 Singaporeans who registered electronically or contacted the Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs have safely returned from Hat Yai, Thailand.
According to a report by Lianhe Zaobao, Singapore’s Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan posted on Facebook on the 1st, expressing gratitude to the Ministry’s consular response team, who worked tirelessly to actively contact Singaporeans in the area and assist them in returning home.
He said: “We also thank the Thai government, the Royal Thai Army, as well as local NGOs and volunteers for their prompt support, enabling us to assist affected Singaporeans more effectively.”
In his post, Dr Balakrishnan also expressed thanks to the Malaysian government for assisting, whenever possible, in receiving Singaporeans and providing timely support during the evacuation.
Heavy rains hit Hat Yai, Thailand, at the end of November, causing severe floods. Many Singaporean tourists in the area were stranded in hotels due to the flooding, facing power outages, food and water shortages.