In Thailand, the south of the kingdom is currently being hit by deadly and destructive floods, killing at least 25 people and displacing more than 13,000. In some areas, these floods are the worst experienced in 50 years, according to local authorities. This is not the first time this year that Thailand has faced torrential rains.
from our correspondent in Bangkok,
Between August 16 and October 7, floods have already killed 52 people and injured 28 others, affecting more than 40 of Thailand's 76 provinces.
Geographically, it was first the north and northeast of the kingdom that suffered the devastation caused by the passage of Typhoon Yagi in Southeast Asia during an increasingly hostile rainy season due to climate change. .
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The government has also approved a plan of 19 billion bahts, or 520 million euros, to rebuild or repair the infrastructure and public services devastated in the two provinces of Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai, in the North, violently affected by the rising waters.
And it is now the south of Thailand which is in the grip of devastating floods. What is the extent of the damage?
The toll is heavy. You said it: at least 25 dead and 13,000 displaced in one week. And more than 640,000 homes were flooded.
Six provinces in the South have declared a state of natural disaster, including those of Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat, near Malaysia, a country which is also experiencing one of the worst waves of flooding in a decade.
Impassable roads, damaged railway lines, entire communities submerged: the images showing the extent of the damage in southern Thailand are impressive.
Also readFloods in Thailand have already killed 22 people, landslides expected
A resident of Narathiwat sent me a video of him where he can be seen swimming in front of his house. Po Chi, whose house was submerged, speaks: “This year, the water rose so quickly and without warning. Everything in my house was damaged. I'm sad because I'm going to have to repair or buy everything again ».
A situation that is all the more dramatic as this region of the country is also confronted with other economic, social and political problems…
It is the poorest region in the kingdom. And the three provinces of Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat, in the far south, have lived under martial law for 20 years due to a conflict between an armed separatist group and the Thai army.
On the government side, an envelope of 9,000 bahts, or 250 euros, is planned to compensate all households in the South affected by the floods. Authorities have urged residents to exercise caution amid the risk of flash floods and landslides until Friday.
But on Thai TV, a scientific expert said southern Thailand could face flooding until the New Year.
