Hat yai: The National Police Chief has mandated the creation of a personal identification operation center in Hat Yai, deploying a team of forensic doctors and evidence investigators from the central office.

According to Thai News Agency, National Police Chief Pol. Gen. Kittirat Panpetch has instructed the immediate establishment of a forensic operations center in Hat Yai District, Songkhla Province. Pol. Gen. Samran Nuanma, Deputy National Police Chief, has been tasked with overseeing the operation aimed at identifying victims of the recent flooding, many of whom remain unidentified. The Police General Hospital is set to deploy a team from the Institute of Forensic Medicine, alongside medical support and equipment, including a refrigerated truck. The Police Forensic Science Office has also sent personnel to collaborate with the Songklanagarind Hospital forensic team. Reports have indicated numerous fatalities, with over 20 deaths requiring further identification.

Additionally, the National Police Chief has instructed the Commander of Provincial Police Region 9 to expedite processes with the operators. Efforts in search, rescue, notification, and area management will be accelerated. Bodies discovered at any scene will be coordinated with various foundations for collection and transportation to a centralized facility, thus eliminating the need for on-site autopsies. A corpse management system, featuring refrigerated trucks or mobile cold storage units, will be implemented at the storage facility. The Deputy Commander of Provincial Police Region 9 will act as the incident commander to ensure efficient handling of emergency situations. This includes overseeing the collection, storage, autopsies, DNA testing of relatives and remains, and the identification of individuals and bodies. The swift verification process aims to return the bodies to families for burial promptly.