FLOOD: DEATH TOLL RISES TO 17 IN SOUTHERN THAILAND

5 DEC 2020

BANGKOK: Severe floods in Nakhon Si Thammarat in southern Thailand claimed 17 lives and damaged more than 170,000 hectares (ha) of crops and fish farms following days of heavy downpour.

Floods in Nakhon Si Thammarat, worst-hit province in southern Thailand, damaged bridges, roads and other infrastructures in the province while tens of thousands of people were affected.

Nakhon Si Thammarat Governor Kraisorn Wisitwong said 144,000 ha of agriculture crops were inundated by floods while 32,000 ha of fish farms were damaged.

“I was informed hat four more bodies were found in Nakhon Si Thammarat this morning, bringing the death toll to 17 people,” he said.

He said the high tide had cause low-lying and flood-prone areas to remain flooded despite the cessation of rain and improving weather.

Meanwhile, Thailand’s Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department said six provinces in southern Thailand – Surat Thani, Phattalung, Songkhla, Krabi, Trang and Nakhon Si Thammarat were still inundated.

Local media reported that some villagers were evacuated to temporarily shelters such as temples and schools as the water levels remained high. - Bernama