His Majesty the King on Saturday sent Privy Councillor Chalermchai Sitthisart to deliver on his behalf 997 survival packs to people affected by a fire that swept through a Songkhla forest.

General Chalermchai also took “Oon Ai Rak” bags containing protective goggles and masks for officials and volunteers helping evacuate people from the site in and adjacent to Thung Bang Nok Ork Swamp in Kwuanniang district.

The Songkhla Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Centre said the fire that broke out on August 5 had consumed more than 2,000 rai of forest and destroyed 300 rai of plantations mostly devoted to oil-palm trees.

Although the fire has largely been extinguished, the centre estimates that more than 1,000 residents of six villages had suffered from smoke inhalation.