Exhausted flood-relief volunteer dies in Nan

The heart of a giver: Suppamongkol "Ae" Rattanajit, a volunteer with the Princess Pa Foundation under the Thai Red Cross Society, who has died during flood-relief work in Nan province. (Photo: Boonsathan Foundation in Phitsanulok)

A volunteer relief worker was found dead in his hotel room in flood-devastated Nan province on Monday morning, after working tirelessly to help flood victims in this northern province throughout the last week.

Suppamongkol "Ae" Rattanajit was part of a Princess Pa Foundation volunteer relief team, under the Thai Red Cross Society, transporting food and drinking water to flood-stricken people in hardest-hit Pua district.

He was found dead in his hotel room, his team announced on Monday. An autopsy would determine the exact cause of his death.

On Aug 19 several districts in Nan were ravaged by severe flash floods, river overflows and landslides triggered by continuous torrential rain, over 380 millimetres falling in some areas.

On Saturday, more than 4,000 residents of 14 villages in Pua district were reported cut off from the outside world for a fourth consecutive day, after the Fai Chao bridge in tambon Woranakhon was swept away by the flood.

The dead volunteer was a member of the drone team delivering food and drinking water to the trapped residents. A teammate said that despite suffering a medical condition, Suppamongkol had laboured unceasingly to help the flood victims. He had taken little rest and may have exhausted himself.

"Khun Ae [Suppamongkol] had dedicated himself to his duties with great selflessness and commitment, continuously assisting people affected by disasters," a foundation in Phitsanulok said in a condolence message. "His work in supporting flood victims in Nan truly reflected the heart of a giver and the spirit of a disaster relief professional.” (continues below)

Volunteers use drones to deliver food and drinking water to residents in Pua district of Nan on Saturday after the Fai Chao bridge in tambon Woranakhon was swept away by the flood. (Photo: Nan provincial public relations office)

The flooding in Nan hit seven districts, 42 tambons and 356 villages and communities, affecting 23,827 households and 67,129 people, with four people killed, according to the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation.

On Sunday, authorities said the level of the Nan River had fallen and the province had entered the recovery phase. Heavy machinery and other resources had arrived in the affected areas, with cleaning and restoration work already underway.