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Five people were killed and tens of thousands of residents affected by the severe flooding caused by seasonal heavy rainfall in southern Thailand, local authorities reported on Thursday.
Thailand’s southern Nakhon Si Thammarat province on Thursday declared itself a disaster zone after the reported casualties.
According to the province’s governor Siripat Phatthakun, the five deaths included a young girl who was swept away by a strong current and later found unconscious by rescue workers in bushes and died after failed efforts to save her life.
The Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Army has ordered troops be sent to the affected regions to assist the local relief efforts.
The troops have helped evacuate residents in the affected areas, including bed-stricken patients from hospitals, to temporary shelters set up by the provincial administration.
Media reports said mobile kitchens were set up at the temporary evacuation centres.
Passengers stuck at the local airport were also evacuated.
The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) said the severe flooding in Nakhon Si Thammarat has made local roads impassable, adding that six other southern provinces were hit by flash floods.
Thai meteorological authorities have warned of heavy rainfall in 12 southern provinces on Thursday and Friday, including the floods-affected seven provinces. (Xinhua/NAN)
– Dec. 3, 2020 @ 15:58 GMT |
Tags: 5 killed in flooding in Thailand
