Severe floods in southern Thailand have claimed at least three lives, with two children still unaccounted for as a broader weather system dumps heavy rain across the region. Local officials warn that more rainfall is likely this Wednesday, raising concerns about worsening conditions for residents already grappling with the disaster.
Over the past day, emergency crews recovered the bodies of two elderly women, 89 and 63 years old, who perished alongside two young children, ages 8 and 2, when the evacuation boat they were riding capsized in Narathiwat province. Rescue teams continue their search on Wednesday for the two missing youngsters as authorities reassess river currents and flood-depth risks. In a separate incident, Yala province reported another drowning, underscoring the multifaceted dangers posed by the deluge.
The downpours have rolled through Thailand’s five southernmost provinces, with Narathiwat and Yala bearing the brunt of the devastation. Dozens of schools have been forced to shutter operations, and some hospitals have reported disruptions to services and patient access due to water intrusion and electrical outages.
In Narathiwat, water levels surged past two meters in several neighborhoods, forcing residents to seek safety on upper floors and rooftops. The rising tides also disrupted major road links that connect towns and districts, complicating relief efforts and delaying the delivery of essential supplies. Rail traffic in affected corridors faced suspension, further hampering emergency responses and travel for evacuees seeking shelter elsewhere.
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin visited several affected sites on Tuesday to coordinate relief measures and pledge rapid assistance for families and frontline responders. Official figures indicate that more than 19,500 families, equating to over 80,000 people, have felt the impact of the floods, highlighting the scope of displacement and the urgent need for temporary housing, food, and medical care.
Meteorological authorities caution that rainfall has started to ease in some communities, with water levels gradually receding in certain pockets. Still, forecasts show continued rain through Friday, albeit at a reduced intensity. The ongoing downpour stems from a persistent rainstorm that has plagued the region for days, a pattern that has also triggered flooding across the border in Malaysia, where authorities have evacuated roughly 28,000 residents from vulnerable areas.