Thailand turns to drones, helicopters to help those trapped by floods

Flood rescue teams in Thailand readied drones to deliver aid on Nov 27, and helicopters dropped supplies to people marooned on rooftops, as the death toll from its worst floods in years rose and the number killed by a cyclone in Indonesia climbed to 61.

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An aerial view of a home surrounded by flood waters in Kangar, in northern Malaysia's Perlis state, on Nov 27. Even as waters were receding in Malaysia, authorities issued new warnings on Nov 27 of a tropical storm until the weekend, with strong winds, rough seas and heavy, continuous rain affecting seven states. PHOTO: AFP

(AFP)

Thailand's government said 55 people died during severe floods from a week of heavy rain that had devastated nine southern provinces, while on the Indonesian island of Sumatra, rescue teams battled to reach communities cut off by landslides and floods that wreaked chaos in three provinces.

Thailand pushed relief efforts into higher gear after the military brought in an aircraft carrier, 20 helicopters and convoys of trucks to deliver food, medicine and dinghies, and issued a public appeal for boats and jet skis to reach people stranded for days by waters up to 2m high.

Floodwaters had receded on Nov 27 in Thailand's worst-hit city of Hat Yai, and the authorities were optimistic that access could increase and allow basic services to be restored. “Efforts to assist the public are continuing, but the flooding situation will be a long fight,” Thai government spokesman Siripong Angkasakulkiat said.