PRACHUAP KHIRI KHAN -- Bang Saphan Hospital restored some of its services on Thursday, as health officials and workers continue cleaning up around the clock in a race to bring all facilities back to normal operation as quickly as possible.
The hospital started offering limited medical services for out-patients on Thursday, while doctors, nurses and staff were still moving medical equipment back inside, cleaning up and draining water.
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Hospital director Dr Cherdchai Chayawattho said on Thursday the hospital will officially reopen on Friday but full services will not be available until all facilities are fully restored.
The hospital was one of many essential services hard hit by flash floods and downpours in Bang Saphan district on Monday and Tuesday. The water reached as high as two metres, sweeping through the hospital, causing severe damage and forcing staff to hastily evacuate patients to other hospitals.
The Public Health Ministry has estimated the damage at the hospital is at least 10 million baht.
Bang Saphan Hospital was in the news last month when Bodyslam frontman Athiwara "Toon" Khongmalai ran 400km from Bangkok to the district to raise funds. The rock singer is a native of Suphan Buri and has a house in Bang Saphan. He drew more than 600 million baht from donors by the time his run ended at the hospital.
Bang Saphan, Bang Saphan Noi and Thap Sakae districts in Prachuap Khiri Khan were severely hit by flooding on Monday and Tuesday after storms had wreaked havoc among most southern provinces since the New Year.
The floods have claimed 36 lives, three of them in Prachuap Khiri Khan. The flood water has receded in all affected provinces, the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department said on Thursday.
Residents clean up in Bang Saphan district, Prachuap Khiri Khan, after flash floods caused extensive damage. (Video by Patipat Janthong)