Severe flooding recently struck Hat Yai district of Songkhla province, Thailand. An affected man, dissatisfied with delayed rescue efforts, fired three shots into the air, threatening jet ski rescuers. Fortunately, no one was injured.
According to Thai media "Thaiger", a rescue team member from Surat Thani posted about the incident on his Facebook account "Tee Inkjet", stating the event happened around 8pm on November 25th. In his post, he recounted the dangers encountered during the rescue operation and attached photos of the jet ski, calling on local residents to remain calm.
He wrote: "Folks in Hat Yai, please stay calm. I can’t save everyone at once, but it’s not because I don’t want to. I brought 300 meals, but they were gone after only serving three households, since each house was packed with people. Suddenly I heard gunshots behind me—it really scared me."
Later, he updated his post again, saying he had rushed from Surat Thani to help in Songkhla, never expecting to be threatened at gunpoint. "I’m packing up my jet ski now and preparing to go home. Sorry, everyone."
Though no one was harmed, the incident left several rescue workers shaken. Another rescuer revealed that the shooter later called the rescue team, demanding they immediately evacuate him and his family.
The gunman’s identity has not yet been disclosed, but the incident has drawn attention locally.
Democrat Party Vice Chairman Confirms Incident
Juriny Laksanawisit, Vice Chairman of Thailand’s Democrat Party, confirmed the shooting incident. He also revealed that while he was in the disaster area, some residents had verbally abused him.
He explained that the jet ski rescue team must first handle the most urgent cases, such as families without food for three days, bedridden patients, severely ill people, and households with young children.
"In life-threatening situations, there must be a strict order of rescue priorities."
He also mentioned that another local man with long hair once threw objects at his team, further complicating rescue efforts. He said he understood the residents’ anxiety but stressed that rescue personnel are also under great pressure when facing threats.
Disaster Victims, Desperate and Emotional, Plead for Understanding of Rescue Process; Do Not Disrupt Operations
Meanwhile, many residents trapped by floodwaters have uploaded videos to TikTok seeking help, with footage showing people outside homes shouting "Help us! Take us away!" and calling for rescue teams to evacuate them.
Rescuers have called upon residents to understand rescue procedures and do their best not to impede operations. They stated they truly wish to help everyone, but due to strong currents and high water levels, it is sometimes impossible to reach certain areas immediately.