Southern Thailand faces new devastating floods. For several days, torrential rains have fallen on the region, causing rivers to overflow and submerging villages, roads and agricultural land.
This Monday, December 16, the Department of Public Health announced that five provinces were seriously affected: Chumphon, Ranong, Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat and Phatthalung. Floods are affecting 47 districts, 274 subdistricts and 1,998 villages, impacting 128,035 households. The human toll already stands at eight deaths, and the authorities fear it could get worse.
In Nakhon Si Thammarat, two people were swept away by the waves, illustrating the seriousness of the situation. In the neighboring province of Surat Thani, thousands of victims have seen their homes transformed into isolated islands. Rescue teams, deployed urgently, are working to evacuate the most vulnerable and provide assistance to isolated populations.
The images bear witness to the scale of the disaster: submerged vehicles, partially submerged homes and residents forced to navigate muddy waters in small boats. Daily life is paralyzed.
To deal with this crisis, local authorities have opened reception centers for disaster victims. These centers offer meals, clothing and hygiene products, but the needs far exceed the available capacities. Infrastructure, already tested, is struggling to respond to the emergency.
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