The death toll from severe flooding in southern Thailand has risen to 25, with more heavy rainfall expected in the coming days, officials confirmed on Tuesday. Since the flooding began on November 22, over 660,000 homes have been affected across the southern provinces, according to the country’s disaster agency. The toll previously stood at nine on Saturday.
The provinces of Pattani, Narathiwat, Songkhla, and Yala have been the hardest hit, with more than 22,000 people displaced. In Songkhla, chicken farm owner Suwas Bin-Uma shared with Thai PBS that his entire flock of over 10,000 chickens had been wiped out by the floodwaters, resulting in an estimated loss of 3 million baht ($87,000).
Thailand’s weather agency has issued a warning for continued heavy rain until December 5, further exacerbating the already dire situation. In response, the government has deployed rescue teams and allocated 50 million baht in flood relief for each affected province. The Thai cabinet also approved a one-time payment of 9,000 baht per family to support those impacted by the disaster.
Meanwhile, in neighboring Malaysia, more than 94,000 people remain displaced due to flooding, with five reported deaths. The country’s authorities continue to work on assisting those affected.
While Thailand faces seasonal monsoon rains, experts attribute the increasing intensity of such weather events to climate change, which is contributing to more frequent and devastating floods. The deadly floods of 2011, which resulted in over 500 deaths and extensive damage to homes, remain a grim reminder of the region’s vulnerability to extreme weather.