Hat yai: The Prime Minister revealed that during his personal visit to District 8, he did not encounter any violence. The Prime Minister disclosed that while visiting District 8, he found no violence but observed significant damage, indicating a dire situation. He announced that villagers would be temporarily relocated to hotels during the recovery period. Additionally, he emphasized that any looting would be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, and 4,000 Village Defense Volunteers would be deployed to assist the area.
According to Thai News Agency, Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior, Anutin Charnvirakul, addressed the situation during his visit to Hat Yai District, Songkhla Province. He described the circumstances as unusual and dire, with floodwaters destroying most homes and leaving them as mere shells. In response, he stressed the need for urgent assistance, drawing parallels to the State Quarantine measures used during the COVID-19 outbreak.
The Prime Minister further explained that residents unable to return to their homes would be accommodated in hotels for at least three to five days. Volunteers and officials would be mobilized to clean both the city and individual homes. Homeowners would spend their days cleaning but would return to hotels at night. This approach also supports the local economy by providing occupancy for hotels. However, he noted that if the situation worsens and no tourists remain, villagers would instead be housed in the hotels, while shelter operations would be reduced with costs remaining stable.
Highlighting the challenging conditions, the Prime Minister shared an account of a resident who had not showered in seven days. He emphasized the government's responsibility to alleviate the residents' struggles.
When questioned about reports of violence and gun violence in District 8, the Prime Minister stated that his visit revealed no such incidents. He mentioned that although there were some provocative occurrences, there were no police surrounding him during his visit. He assured that the Region 9 Provincial Police Commander and the Hat Yai Police Chief had been instructed to oversee the situation. Patrols were visible, and the most violent incidents were concentrated in the center of Hat Yai. However, he believed the overall situation was free of violence.
Regarding looting during the floods, the Prime Minister confirmed that full action would be taken. The Commander of Provincial Police Region 9 assured him that the area was under control, and 4,000 officers from the Ministry of Interior's Defense Volunteers had been mobilized to assist with area control and cleaning efforts.