Hat Yai, Thailand has been severely hit by floods, with many Malaysian families stranded in Southern Thailand flooding the Facebook page of Batu Lancang state assemblyman Wong Ye Zhong with pleas for help. Wong Ye Zhong reported the latest update that as of 1:30pm Wednesday, 1,006 Malaysians have been rescued.
In an interview this afternoon, Wong Ye Zhong said that the Malaysian rescue teams replied to him today, and it is estimated that around 1,000 Malaysians are still waiting for rescue.
"Since last night, Thai southern rescue teams and Malaysian rescue teams who went to Hat Yai for disaster relief have been conducting joint operations. Malaysian rescue teams informed me this afternoon that 1,006 Malaysians have been rescued over the past two days."
As urgent rescue operations are still ongoing, the rescuers currently do not have further identity information of the rescued and stranded Malaysians, so it is not possible to determine the number of Penangites among them.
He pointed out that according to Malaysian rescue teams on site in Hat Yai, it has been raining non-stop since this morning, and the water levels have not receded significantly. Fortunately, the flood waters have not been as turbulent as the past two days, allowing the authorities to intensify rescue work.
He said that ever since he uploaded a post on Tuesday about "9 Penangites trapped in Hat Yai, Southern Thailand, have finally returned home safely," pleas for help have flooded into his Facebook page from all directions.
"Some people even came directly to my service center, asking me to help locate relatives lost contact with in Hat Yai."
He stated that his service center would organize information from people asking for help via Facebook and walk-ins, and forward it to the Malaysian rescue team already in Hat Yai.
"In fact, the rescue teams themselves had already organized waiting-for-rescue lists early on, but in some severe areas, they can only wait for the water level to recede somewhat before they can immediately start rescue operations."
Therefore, he urged people who have family or friends stranded in Hat Yai to remain calm, as Malaysian rescue teams will fully cooperate with the Thai southern rescue teams to help the stranded Malaysians as soon as possible.
He said that the continuously rising water, rapid currents, and some impassable roads not only hinder the movement of the rescue teams, but also lead to situations such as overturned rescue boats, lorry engine failure, and broken communication devices, causing serious damage to their equipment.
"Therefore, I urge the Malaysian government to quickly extend a helping hand and ensure that all Malaysians stranded there are safely brought back home!"
"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also set up an operation room in Putrajaya starting today. Malaysians in affected areas who have not yet received assistance can contact the Malaysian Consulate General in Songkhla, the Malaysian Embassy in Bangkok, or the Foreign Ministry operation room for help."
He also urged members of the public concerned about the progress of rescue operations to visit the Facebook page of the Malaysian Rescue Team (MTL Rescue Team): https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61568696030395.
Malaysian Consulate General in Songkhla
Emergency phone: +(6674)316274 / +(6681)9901930
Other phones: +(6674) 324004 / 312353
Email: mwsongkhla@kln.gov.my
Other phones: +(6674) 324004 / 312353
Email: mwsongkhla@kln.gov.my
Malaysian Embassy in Bangkok
Emergency phone: +66-87-028-4659
Other phones: +66-2340-5721
Email: mwbangkok@kln.gov.my
Emergency phone: +66-87-028-4659
Other phones: +66-2340-5721
Email: mwbangkok@kln.gov.my
Foreign Ministry Operations Room
Phone: +603 8887 4570
Email: dutyofficer@kln.gov.my
Phone: +603 8887 4570
Email: dutyofficer@kln.gov.my