Thai paramotoring enthusiast volunteers to drop aid to flood victims

THRILL LIKE NO OTHER Vichai Tiyasan, 38, has been delivering dry food and essential items in Sukhothai, one of 30 provinces hardest hit by floods, from his paramotor. —REUTERS

BANGKOK — A paramotoring enthusiast in northern Thailand has taken to the skies to help deliver urgently need supplies to people cut off by floods.

Thrill-seeker Vichai Tiyasan, 38, has been motoring over waterlogged lands to drop off dry food and essential items in Sukhothai, one of 30 provinces impacted by floods in the past week.

Footage of his ultralight aviation endeavors have been shared widely on social media.

“The flood covers most areas of Sukhothai province. The situation is worse comparing to the past years,” Vichai told Reuters by phone.

Powered paraglider

A paramotor, also known as a powered paraglider, comprises a back-mounted metal frame with a propeller-driven by a petrol-fueled motor resembling a giant household fan. The pilot can steer it using brake toggles that are similar to that of a parachutist.

At least six people died and two were missing in the floods, according to the disaster agency, which has also issued flood warnings in areas along the Chaophraya river, including the capital Bangkok.

Thailand is no stranger to flooding and in 2011 was hit by its worst floods in half a century, in a crisis that lasted months and saw hundreds of people killed, heavy industry devastated and many parts of the capital paralyzed.