Southern Flood Death Toll Rises to 80, More Monsoonal Rain Expected

Heavy downpours flooded Tesco Lotus on Friday night in Songkhla province

BANGKOK —  A total of 80 people have reportedly been killed as a result of the flash floods in southern Thailand, claimed to have been the worst in decades.

Chatchai Promloed, chief of the Department of Disaster Prevention said Friday that 80 people had died and nearly two million people affected by floods in the southern region since the beginning of December.

More heavy downpours are expected in the region according to the Meteorological Department’s Saturday morning forecast. Another high pressure system coming from China and extending to the country’s northeast region will bring stronger monsoon winds across the gulf and the south from Sunday through Wednesday. This could exacerbate the floods in some provinces including Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat and Songkhla.

Read: Unchecked Development, Poor Planning Set Stage for Flood Crisis

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A red-flag warning was back in effect on Ko Samui’s popular Chaweng Beach on Friday to keep people from swimming due to 2 meter waves.

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Flood in Nakhon Si Thammarat city on Friday
Flood in Nakhon Si Thammarat city on Friday
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