BANGKOK, Nov 26: Severe flooding in southern Thailand has claimed at least 33 lives since the weekend, officials said, as dramatic footage showed residents stranded on rooftops as their homes were engulfed by water.
Around 1 million households, impacting over 2.7 million people across 12 southern provinces, have been affected by floods triggered by heavy rains, according to the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation. While rainfall began to ease Wednesday, the Meteorological Department warned of continued heavy rain and flash flooding.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul declared a state of emergency for Songkhla province, including Hat Yai, citing the unprecedented severity of the floods.
Streets were impassable, and low-rise buildings and cars were nearly submerged, trapping thousands. Some residents on higher floors received food via flat-bottom boats. Drone footage showed a family of five rescued from a nearly submerged rooftop.
Hat Yai Hospital faces critical conditions, with electricity at risk due to high water. About 50 patients needing intubation were airlifted, and around 600 more patients, along with hospital staff, are to be evacuated.
The Thai navy’s HTMS Chakri Naruebet is serving as an offshore command center, while the Bangkok air force base will stage relief supply flights. Critical patients will continue to be airlifted to safer facilities. (AP)
