Photo courtesy of Bangkok Post

 

Hat Yai faces critical health and safety challenges due to delayed waste removal following recent floods. Senator Chaiyong Maneerungsakul criticized the sluggish clearance, highlighting risks as heavy rain is anticipated on December 14. Initially, authorities assessed flood-related waste at 200,000 tonnes, but recent estimates by municipal workers suggest it could be closer to one million tonnes.

 

Despite eight days passing since floodwaters receded, only 40% of the waste has been cleared. Efforts have prioritized major roads, leaving 103 communities still inundated with debris. As waste begins to decompose, strong odors and airborne dust from dried waste are causing health concerns among residents, who have resorted to wearing masks.

 

The delayed cleanup is partly due to residents only recently beginning to clear their homes after tap water restoration. This has generated additional waste, leading to more prolonged collection needs. Access to narrow alleys remains difficult due to inadequate machinery, complicating waste removal and causing traffic congestion.

 

Senator Chaiyong warns that Hat Yai faces renewed flood risks with December 14's forecasted rains. The clogged canals, unable to handle heavy rainfall, pose a significant flooding threat. Mr. Chaiyong emphasized, "If canals are blocked when the rain comes, Hat Yai will flood again.", reported Bangkok Post.

 

Key Takeaways

• Hat Yai's waste management post-floods has cleared less than 40% of debris.
• Delays are heightened by ongoing waste generation and lack of small machinery.
• The city faces imminent flooding risks with upcoming heavy rains.

 

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  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Bangkok Post 2025-12-09

 

 

 

On 12/9/2025 at 11:30 AM, snoop1130 said:

Hat Yai faces critical health and safety challenges due to delayed waste removal following recent floods. Senator Chaiyong Maneerungsakul criticized the sluggish clearance,

 

But Anutin promissed that all will be cleared in 2 weeks.