Water submerging vehicles in Hat Yai recently, in one of its most severe floods that have seen over 100 people dead and hundred others displaced. —AFP
THE SEVERE flooding in Hat Yai is yet another wake-up call that Thailand remains unprepared to cope with climate change. This is not the first time the South has been devastated – similar floods struck Hat Yai in 2000 and 2010, and other regions have suffered from extreme weather.
Yet, despite these warnings, preparedness remains inadequate. The latest deluge dumped 635mm of rain in three days, submerging central Hat Yai, stranding thousands of residents and tourists, and once again we saw how extreme weather is becoming more frequent and damaging.
