Thermal Drone Supports Flood Victims and Thailand’s Sea Turtles

A thermal-imaging drone donated by Phuket Marriott Resort & Spa Merlin Beach and its partners is being used for disaster relief and wildlife protection in southern Thailand. During a three-day flood response in Songkhla, the equipment supported aerial surveys, emergency communication and rescue coordination. The operation reportedly provided charging assistance to 650 people, powered hundreds of mobile phones and helped emergency teams relocate residents and transport a patient to hospital. Conservation teams are also deploying the drone at night to locate and monitor leatherback turtle nesting areas in Phang Nga province. Its thermal technology allows workers to survey beaches more efficiently while maintaining a greater distance from vulnerable animals and reducing human disturbance.