Si Sa Ket gas station tops up an unexpected visitor
The usual sights in a regular Thai gas station are huge queues of taxis at the NGV pump, one or two attendants taking care of 4-6 pumps, and a small convenience store that is paired with the station. But one gas station in Si Sa Ket got an unexpected visitor when one rescue boat pulled up to get refuelled.
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Flood turns gas station into refuelling spot for boats
On 4th October, a popular local Facebook page shared a photo showing a boat refuelling at a local gas station in Si Sa Ket which is located in the Esaan region. The Esaan region has been heavily affected by the floods that have ravaged the country.
Image credit: This.is.Sisaket
Local authorities have deployed emergency boats to deliver food to people stranded in their homes due to the rising water levels as well as to evacuate them if the need arises.
Image credit: This.is.Sisaket
But the right of a motor boat travelling the streets and even pulling up to a gas station for refuelling surprised locals.
Image credit: This.is.Sisaket
Unsurprisingly, however, is how Thai people immediately latched onto the absurd situation to find humour in it.
Using humour to uplift a distressing situation
In the past few weeks, the Esaan region has been one of the regions that has been hit the hardest from the combination of monsoons and Typhoon Noru. Not only are people stranded on the roof of their house, but in late August satellite images also showed close to 120,000 acres of rice paddies were submerged.
In spite of all that, Thai people, and the people of Si Sa Ket in particular, still managed to find humour in the situation. The original post was captioned “In this era, we can refuel boats at the gas station.”
Commenters also chimed in.
Image credit: This.is.Sisaket
Translation: This is a historical picture worth preserving.
Image credit: This.is.Sisaket
Translation: Even in these dire times, we can still smile. Keep fighting Si Sa Ket.
Other commenters even shared similar boats on their route to deliver food.
Image credit: This.is.Sisaket
Keep the faith and stay positive
The rains have hit the Esaan region and Northern region hard in the past week. But the people still help each other smile and laugh, even on social media.
And although Bangkok and Central Thailand have also been hit hard by the rains, floods from the north and Esaan draining into the Gulf of Thailand means that the worst might be yet to come. In the next few weeks, the people of Central Thailand have a good example to look to.
Cover images adapted from (From left to right): This.is.Sisaket, This.is.Sisaket
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