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The death toll from days of severe flooding in southern Thailand rose to 33 on Wednesday, with tens of thousands displaced across the country and in neighbouring Malaysia, officials said.
The Thai government declared a state of emergency in Songkhla province on Tuesday after relentless rain since late last week submerged the tourist city of Hat Yai and much of the southern region. Images released on Wednesday showed muddy brown water engulfing streets and ground floors of homes in the city.
Government spokesman Siripong Angkasakulkiat said 33 people had died across seven provinces, with causes including flash floods, electrocution, and drowning. He added that water levels were expected to begin receding in the south.
Severe flooding has swept through seven southern provinces, home to several million people, according to the disaster prevention and mitigation department. Since last week, residents and tourists have been stranded in their homes and hotels, while rescuers have relied on boats, jet skis, and military trucks to reach those trapped by the high water.
The military has deployed an aircraft carrier and helicopters to airlift patients to hospitals. More than 10,000 residents have been evacuated in Songkhla alone, according to local officials. University campuses have been turned into temporary shelters for displaced people.
The provincial administration said it had set up food centres capable of distributing up to 20,000 meals a day to flood victims.
Thailand experiences heavy rains from June to September each year, but experts say human-driven climate change is intensifying extreme weather and making conditions more unpredictable.
In neighbouring Malaysia, flooding caused by days of heavy rain has affected eight states. Forecasters expect more rainfall in the coming days. More than 27,000 people have taken refuge in temporary shelters, and one death has been confirmed in Kelantan, one of the worst-hit states.
The Malaysian Meteorological Department warned that thunderstorms would continue until Wednesday in the northern states of Perlis, Kedah, Penang, and Perak. Flooding is common during Malaysia’s northeast monsoon, which lasts from November to March.
Malaysia’s foreign ministry said on Tuesday it was monitoring the situation across the border after thousands of Malaysian tourists were stranded in southern Thailand last week. It confirmed that most of those affected had been staying in multi-storey hotels and were safe. As of Monday, more than 6,300 Malaysians had crossed back into the country.
