Rescue Drones Deliver Aid to Bangkok Flood-Trapped Communities
Rescue drones equipped with cargo capacity delivered emergency food and supplies to 170,000 flood-trapped residents in Bangkok's Ramkhamhaeng Housing Community on September 28, bypassing boat obstacles caused by debris and fencing.
On September 28, 2025, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation Yuthasak Sasindhorn met with King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi and the Defense Industry Association at Government House to coordinate the use of drone technology for flood management in the Ramkhamhaeng Housing Community in Ladkrabang, a densely populated area of 170,000 residents.
Flood conditions in the housing area have intensified, particularly in the central district known as the Red area, where water levels are critically high. Boat-based rescue efforts face severe obstacles from debris and residential fencing, causing delays in supply delivery. Officials therefore mobilized rescue drones to support operations and provide emergency relief to affected residents.
At 2:45 p.m. the same day, Deputy Prime Minister Yuthasak visited the site with Minister of Social Development and Human Security Nikorn Somklang, Rescue Foundation Chair Wicharn Meenchainant, and former Air Force Commander Manit Wongwat, chairman of the Defense Industry Association, to coordinate the Flood Rescue Drone Volunteer team, a partnership between Systronics Company and the Defense Industry Association deploying 10 personnel.
The operation mobilized six drones: four small reconnaissance and rescue drones equipped with image analysis and radar systems for rapid situation assessment, and two large cargo drones capable of lifting up to 80 kilograms to deliver food and survival kits, along with supporting equipment including cargo nets and generators.
For supply management, various agencies, particularly the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, established an operations center and field kitchen near Ramkhamhaeng Soi 192 in Minburi District, with a primary command post at Ramkhamhaeng 2 and four standby four-wheel-drive vehicles. Plans are underway to relocate the kitchen to Pak Bung Temple, just 1.5 kilometers from the target area, to accelerate food delivery.
During the site visit, Deputy Prime Minister Yuthasak observed the large cargo drone team deliver survival kits and food using a 20-meter lowering rope to centrally located displacement areas, enabling precise aid delivery to locations unreachable by boat and successfully completing the mission.
