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.
Wichai said the group is now suspending operations as the waters in Sukhothai are starting to recede.
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Elsewhere though the floods continue to wreak havoc. In one district in Lopburi province, water levels have risen ten centimetres since Wednesday, swamping vehicles and inundating houses.
The army is helping evacuate people to temporary accommodation and bring in food to those opting to stay in their homes.
According to the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigations, on Thursday, the flood has affected 227,470 households in 31 out of Thailand's 76 provinces. Seven people have died and one is missing.
Heavy rain is forecast over the coming days. In addition, water is being discharged from reservoirs in central Thailand to stop them from being overwhelmed.
This is raising concerns that severe flooding may affect the capital, Bangkok.
Massive flooding in 2011, considered the country's worst in half a century, took at least 600 lives and caused $45 billion in damage, according to a World Bank estimate.
AP
