The death toll from devastating floods in southern Thailand has climbed to 25, with more than 660,000 homes affected since the deluge began on November 22, according to the country’s disaster management agency. Officials warned of days of continued heavy rain as the Thai weather agency forecast downpours to persist until December 5.
The flooding, which has wreaked havoc across Pattani, Narathiwat, Songkhla, and Yala provinces, has displaced over 22,000 residents. The Thai government’s public relations department confirmed the scale of the disaster, which has overwhelmed local communities and left many struggling to rebuild.
Among those severely impacted is Suwas Bin-Uma, a chicken farmer from Songkhla, who lost his entire flock of more than 10,000 birds. “I’ve lost at least 3 million baht (US$87,000),” he told Thai PBS, expressing the immense financial burden the floods have caused.
To aid affected families, the Thai government has approved 50 million baht in relief funds for each province and is offering 9,000 baht in direct support to displaced households. Rescue teams have been deployed to assist residents in flood-hit areas.
Flooding Across Borders
In neighboring northern Malaysia, the situation remains dire as well, with disaster officials reporting over 94,000 people still unable to return to their homes. Five deaths have been confirmed as floodwaters persist.
The Role of Climate Change
Thailand’s annual monsoon season often brings heavy rains, but scientists attribute the increasing frequency and intensity of such destructive floods to climate change. Rising global temperatures are amplifying weather extremes, making the region more susceptible to severe flooding.
The current devastation echoes memories of the catastrophic floods in 2011, which claimed over 500 lives and caused widespread damage across the country.
Authorities in Thailand and Malaysia continue to monitor the situation closely, with rescue and relief efforts ongoing to support affected populations.