Hundreds of relief vehicles idle at Sakon Nakhon

The disaster prevention and mitigation authority has defended its flood-relief operations in hard-hit Sakon Nakhon in the face of mounting criticism that it failed to deploy boats to help flood victims.

The criticism was triggered by photos and comments posted on a Facebook page by a local flood-relief volunteer featuring several flat-bottomed boats, water trucks and other flood-relief equipment stored in a warehouse of the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Centre Region 7 in the province.

Above: A military flat-bottomed boat in poor condition was deployed to help flood-affected victims. Below: Boats in storage at the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Centre Region 7. The centre was criticised for not sending the boats and other vehicles to help victims in flood-ravaged areas in Sakon Nakhon. (Photos FB/Boontawee Chaumuangsaen)

The Facebook user, identified as Boontawee Chaumuangsaen, questioned why soldiers deployed to help flood victims lacked boats while the facility was only 500 metres away.

The volunteer observed that many of the military vehicles dispatched to the areas being flooded were in poor condition -- especially the flat-bottomed boats, which were too small to carry anything but small stocks of basic necessities.

This was framed against his claim that hundreds of the unused vehicles at the centre were in much better condition.

Disaster zones declared: Floods continue to spread

After leaving the facility, the volunteer said he travelled to the flooded areas on a boat that belonged to another volunteer who was a resident of Udon Thani.

"Villagers in three flood-hit areas asked me to help them because they requested boats several times but the authorities never responded," he posted.

The man also posted photos showing the poor condition of military boats dispatched to help victims.

This prompted Chatchai Promlert, director-general of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, to come forward to explain that the warehouse serves as a vehicle hub, with boats constantly coming in and out for various operations.

He said all the vehicles pictured were on standby and awaiting orders from provincial governors.

All vehicles, equipment and officials will be rotated around flood-affected areas as needed, he said.

Mr Chatchai said officials and rescue personnel have worked at full capacity to help the villagers in Sakon Nakhon, which has been plagued by heavy rain and flooding.

Centre chief Jureerat Thepart explained the number of vehicles at the storage facility by saying it was also responsible for two other provinces. Some were out of order, he added.

Over 3,000 households in five districts of Nakhon Phanom have been submerged by floodwater in recent days, with Wang Yang district the hardest hit. The province sits in a low-lying area making it vulnerable to runoff from neighbouring Sakon Nakhon.

As of Tuesday, seven districts of Sakon Nakhon remained inundated.

Uthen Chuaboriboon, 62, a resident of Na Kae district, complained of a lack of access to toilets, water and electricity.