Asia Floods Leave Trail of Destruction, Near-Death Experiences
HAT YAI, Thailand & SUMATRA, INDONESIA – Survivors across Thailand and Indonesia are recounting harrowing escapes as devastating floods recede, leaving behind widespread damage and a desperate need for aid. From snakebites endured during agonizing delays in rescue to frantic shouts for help as homes filled with water, the scale of the disaster is prompting comparisons to the worst flooding in living memory.
In Hat Yai, Thailand, residents like Natchanun described being trapped as floodwaters rose rapidly. ”This place so I shouted and shouted,” he said, recalling the terrifying ordeal. his mother was rescued by stretcher and received first aid,but the family remains displaced,facing a home without water and covered in mud. Elsewhere in Hat Yai, Chutikan Panpit, 32, considers her survival a miracle after being bitten by a Malayan pit viper while checking water levels on her terrace. She waited 32 hours for rescue, enduring pain she compared to childbirth. “I was scared of dying. My son just turned one. He just learned how to say ’mummy’ a few days earlier,” Panpit recounted, adding that the strong current during her boat rescue forced her to cling tightly to avoid being swept away. Doctors warned her that with a Malayan pit viper bite and 32 hours passing, amputation might be necesary. Her parents prayed for her safety throughout the ordeal.
The floods have caused immense damage, with tens of thousands of homes impacted and debris littering the streets. Even the sound of rain now triggers panic among residents. The situation is equally dire on Sumatra, the largest Indonesian island, where at least 11 bridges have been destroyed, cutting off access to villages and sections of the national highway. Recovery teams report shortages of food and clean water in reachable areas, leaving many flood victims reliant on community donations while sheltering or attempting to salvage belongings. Busra, a resident, stated, ”This year’s flood is the worst tragedy in history,” highlighting the unprecedented scale of the disaster.
