Hat yai: Police Region 9 has issued an apology for using a backhoe to move vehicles in Hat Yai City to open traffic and emergency routes, and has committed to taking responsibility for the owners of all 10 vehicles involved.

According to Thai News Agency, the situation arose after flooding in Hat Yai began to ease, allowing many residents to return to their homes. However, numerous roads and bridges remained obstructed by parked vehicles, including those displaced by the floodwaters. Since November 27, 2015, Provincial Police Region 9 has been urging residents to move their vehicles to alleviate traffic congestion. Despite these efforts, as of November 29, 2015, vehicles continued to block major intersections, particularly at the Rong Poon Intersection and in front of the Khlong U-Tapao Bridge near the Hat Yai District Office. These submerged vehicles left only one lane open, causing severe traffic congestion and hindering emergency vehicle operations.

On November 29, 2015, police officers utilized a backhoe to clear the road by pushing the wheels of approximately 10 vehicles to the side, thereby reopening a traffic lane for emergency vehicles. Police Region 9 has apologized for any damage caused during this operation and has committed to taking responsibility for the vehicles affected.

In their ongoing efforts to manage traffic, Police Region 9 announced that vehicles have only been relocated within a 300-meter radius and have not been removed from the area. However, plans are in place to relocate vehicles to designated areas such as the Hat Yai Municipal Stadium and the parking lot of the Prince of Songkla University International Convention Center if owners do not claim them. The public is encouraged to contact the hotline at 191 for further information.