Floods in the south of Thailand They reached a balance of 145 people died and dozens missing, while search and rescue efforts continue this Friday in the hardest hit regions.
The government spokesman, Siripong Angkasakulkiat, indicated that only in the province of Songkhla, the most affected, 55 fatalities have been recorded so far. Deaths have also been recorded in Nakhon Si Thammarat (9), Narathiwat (4), Satun (3), Pattani (3), Phatthalung (2) and Yala (2), according to figures from the Department for Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DPMD).
The disaster impacted more than three million people, according to the agency’s most recent update. The city of Hat Yai, the economic center of southern Thailand, is concentrating rescue efforts as the waters recede and progress is made in recovering bodies.
“Although the water situation has improved, The Government continues to provide assistance. Rehabilitation and relief efforts are underway, and a recovery plan has been prepared,” the spokesperson stated at a press conference.
The disaster left mud-covered streets, piled-up cars and debris in different areas of Hat Yai. Authorities warn that the number of victims could rise as teams search more areas.
The Thai government, which began its mandate in September, received criticism for alleged lack of foresight and slowness in responding to the emergency.
According to data released this Thursday on official networks, nearly three million people were affected by the floods in the southern provinces of Thailand: Nakhon Si Thammarat, Trang, Phattalung, Satun, Songkhla, Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat and the touristy Surat Thani, which includes the islands Koh Tao and Koh Samui.
In the central-northern region, it is estimated that some 100,000 homes have been flooded and around 250,000 people have been affected after recent heavy rains. In Songkhla alone, the province that borders Malaysia and declared an emergency, authorities plan to allocate around $1.6 billion to recovery, with special emphasis on the city of Hat Yai.
The town, the commercial center of southern Thailand, registered the highest volume of precipitation in the last 300 yearsaccording to the DPMD. Photographs published by government agencies show flooded neighborhoods, people waiting for assistance on rooftops or walking with water up to their necks, while Rescue teams distribute supplies and medicines aboard boats and helicopters.
Torrential rains also affected northern Malaysia and caused water to reach the roofs of homes in several areas of southern Thailand. Emergency services had to evacuate residents on rafts and resort to using drones and helicopters to distribute food.
Southeast Asia is going through a particularly severe season of tropical storms and typhoons, with hundreds of thousands of evacuees in different countries. In Vietnam, authorities reported last Saturday the death of 90 people due to floods and landslides, while in Malaysia more than 11,000 residents had to leave their homes due to rainfall.
In addition to concerns about flooding, this Friday the Thailand Meteorological Department (TMD) issued Weather Advisory No. 4, warning of the impact of the Typhoon Koto and a cold front that could affect the north of the country between November 28 and 30.
According to the report, at 4:00 (local time) this Friday, the typhoon, with maximum sustained winds near the center that reached 110 km/h, weakened to a tropical storm while transiting the South China Sea.
(With information from EFE)
