In the wake of the worst floods to hit southern Thailand and northern Malaysia in decades, the death toll has climbed to at least 12, officials confirmed on Saturday. Tens of thousands of individuals have been forced to evacuate as water levels continue to rise rapidly over the past three days, causing widespread devastation in the affected regions.
Southern Thailand has been particularly hard hit, with nearly 534,000 households grappling with the aftermath of the floods. The number of casualties has risen to nine, a significant increase from the four reported just one day prior. In response, approximately 200 temporary shelters have been established to provide refuge for those displaced by the disaster. The Chana district in Songkhla province experienced its worst floods in half a century, as harrowing scenes captured individuals being rescued from their submerged homes.
Video footage from the Sateng Nok District in Yala province further illustrates the dire situation, showing rescuers bravely evacuating a baby from a flooded home. Meanwhile, in neighboring Malaysia, nearly 139,000 people across nine states have been affected by the floods, resulting in three fatalities since Friday, according to the National Disaster Command Centre.
The Thai Meteorological Department has issued warnings of more heavy rainfall in the southern regions, heightening the risk of additional flash floods in the already devastated areas. These catastrophic events come on the heels of a challenging time for the region, with neighboring Philippines facing the onslaught of six typhoons in the span of just one month in November, underscoring the urgent need for comprehensive disaster preparedness and response strategies.