Heavy rains in southern Thailand have resulted in severe flooding, leading to nine fatalities and displacing over 13,000 individuals as of November 30, 2024. Rescue teams are utilizing boats and jet skis to reach residents stranded by the rising waters.
Reports indicate that flooding has impacted 553,921 households across eight provinces, prompting urgent assistance from various agencies. Temporary shelters have been established in schools and temples for those forced to evacuate their homes.
A resident from Songkhla province expressed concern over diminishing food supplies, stating, 'We are doing fine now, but I am not sure how long we can stay in this condition.'
In the Pattani province, two hospitals have suspended operations to prevent damage from floodwaters. Meanwhile, neighboring Malaysia has also faced similar challenges, with at least 80,000 people evacuated and four confirmed deaths due to the rains.
The Thai Meteorological Department has issued warnings that heavy rainfall may continue to affect southern regions through the following week. In response, the government has deployed rescue teams and allocated 50 million baht (approximately $1.7 million) in flood relief for each affected province.
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra emphasized the urgency of restoring normal conditions as quickly as possible. Experts attribute the increasing severity of such weather events to man-made climate change, which is believed to intensify monsoon patterns.
Historically, the 2011 floods in Thailand resulted in over 500 deaths and significant damage to millions of homes.