Photo: Tuwaedaniya Meringing Agence France-Presse People stand near motorbikes in Pattani province, Thailand, during heavy flooding.
Agence France-Presse in Bangkok
Published yesterday at 16:58
- Asia
Floods triggered by heavy rains in southern Thailand have killed nine people and forced more than 13,000 to evacuate, authorities said Saturday.
They deployed boats and jet skis to reach isolated residents. Images released by local media showed people wading through muddy waters and submerged cars.
200% Deposit Bonus up to €3,000 180% First Deposit Bonus up to $20,000“Floods in eight southern provinces have affected 553,921 households and killed nine people,” the national disaster management agency said on its Facebook page.
More than 13,000 people have fled their homes and temporary shelters have been set up in schools and temples, it said.
The authorities had reported two deaths in Pattani province and two in Songkhla province a day earlier, after one in the Narathiwat region on Thursday.
Two hospitals Pattani province has suspended operations to preserve infrastructure and equipment, the Thai government said in a statement on its website.
The latter announced $1.7 million in aid for each affected province.
The national weather agency warned that “very heavy rains” could continue to drench parts of the south next week.
In neighbouring Malaysia, more than 122,000 people have been forced from their homes, also due to flooding caused by heavy rains, authorities said Saturday, with the death toll of four remaining unchanged.
“Of course I'm scared…” Muhammad Zulkarnain, 27, who lives with his parents in Pasir Putehet, where they are stranded, told AFP: “Vehicles have no way to get in or out of my house. neighborhood.”
“Luckily, we received help from NGOs, who gave us food like biscuits, instant noodles and eggs,” he added.
Monsoons occur every year in these Southeast Asian countries. However, scientists say global warming is increasing their intensity and can make destructive floods more frequent.
In 2011, more than 500 people were killed and millions of homes damaged by massive floods in Thailand.