At least 145 people have died in the severe flooding that hit the country’s southern region, officials said Friday, as declining water levels exposed extensive destruction.
According to the Associated Press (AP), Thailand’s Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation said, more than 1.2 million homes and 3.6 million residents across 12 southern provinces have been impacted by days of intense rainfall that triggered the floods.
Government spokesperson Siripong Angkasakulkiat said in a news conference in Bangkok that flooding has killed 145 people in eight provinces, particularly in Songkhla province which recorded at least 110 deaths.
The toll in Songkhla rose sharply once the floods began to ease, with reports showing that emergency workers were finally able to reach residential neighbourhoods previously cut off by deep water. More bodies were recovered in several areas, including Hat Yai, the region’s largest urban center.
The floods brought widespread disruption, leaving many residents trapped, blocking major roads, and inundating vehicles and low-lying structures.
Images and footage from Friday revealed scenes of destruction: broken roads, toppled electrical poles, scattered household items, and debris lining the streets. Numerous abandoned vehicles lay overturned or stacked on top of each other after being carried off by strong currents.
Meanwhile, The death toll from floods and landslides on the Indonesian island of Sumatra island has risen to 174, up from the previous 94, the country’s disaster mitigation agency said on Friday, adding that dozens remain missing, reports Reuters.
