Sukhothai/Lopburi (Thailand): A Thai paragliding team put its aerial skills to good use by flying aid sorties over flood-hit villages and dropping vital supplies to the stranded residents below.
The 15-strong group began operations last Saturday in Sukhothai province, in lower northern Thailand, after Tropical Storm Dianmu combined with annual monsoon rains to inundate the area.
Using a relay of five machines, the gliders have flown every day since.
In some districts of Sukhothai, the water flow has been too strong for small boats to make headway.
The coordinates are passed to the public-spirited pilots who navigate to the villages, their paragliders laden with up to 20 bags of emergency supplies each.
On Wednesday they dropped around 200 packages.
They contain water bottles, instant noodles, some rice and other dried foods: enough to see villagers through the next few days. Some packs also include basic medicines and sanitary items.
One of the group, 38-year-old Wichai Tiyasan, told the Associated Press on Thursday using paragliders mean that rescuers can get to hard-to-reach areas much faster than other modes of transportation.
It isn't the first time the pilots have brought help from the heavens. As well as flood relief they've searched for missing hikers in remote terrain, locating their positions and dropping food and water.