Severe flooding hits southern Thailand

Severe floods caused by intense rainfall affected more than 66 000 people in Thailand’s most southern provinces, Narathiwat and Yala on December 25 and 26, 2023.

Tens of thousands of residents in southern Thailand were hit by severe flooding that led to extensive disruptions over the past couple of days. The floods submerged roads and railways, prompted the closure of schools, and left people trapped in their homes, struggling against rising waters.

The province of Narathiwat, located near the country’s southern border with Malaysia, was the worst affected. Some districts were submerged for days, leading to desperate calls for assistance. Thai PBS reported that numerous people were forced to seek refuge on the roofs of their flooded homes, awaiting rescue and relief.

The impact of the flooding extended to the educational sector, with at least a dozen schools in Narathiwat and the neighboring province of Yala forced to shut down. Visuals from the region depicted a grim scene with homes, shops, and community areas inundated with floodwaters.

The relentless downpour not only wreaked havoc on land but also at sea, leading to the sinking of at least seven boats in the Gulf of Thailand and Andaman Sea since Friday, December 22.

Due to track subsidence from the persistent rains, trains heading south towards Malaysia were terminating at Yala, approximately 100 km (62 miles) from the border, significantly impacting travel and trade in the region.

Narathiwat, Tailandia 🇹🇭#น้ําท่วมนราธิวาส #น้ําท่วมนราธิวาส #banjir #floods #inundaciones pic.twitter.com/EcEfWPNZCc

— Centinela35 (@Centinela_35) December 27, 2023

บ้านเค้าเองทุกคนนนนน😭😭😭😭
ปีนี้หนักมากจริงๆ😭😭😭 น้ำมาเร็วมากกก https://t.co/yCtQ51Gzlj

— popo (@tata89862709) December 25, 2023

Update

January 4, 16:34 UTC

The floods have claimed at least 12 lives, with over 18 000 households in the Pattani, Narathiwat, and Yala provinces affected by flooding.

References:

¹ Tens of thousands affected as severe flooding hits Thailand’s south – AFP, AL JAZEERA – December 26, 2023

² Tens of thousands affected as floods hit Thailand south – CNA – December 26, 2023

Featured image credit: cygnet (stillshot)