Thailand: Floods and Their Aftermath Claim at Least 13 Lives

Kuala Lumpur, Sept 28 (KUNA) -- An official tally in Thailand on Monday showed that at least 13 people had died in various parts of the country due to floods and flash floods and their direct consequences, including drowning and electrocution, as water drainage operations continued, residents were assisted, and damage assessments were conducted in affected areas. The Thai Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department said in a statement that the fatalities were distributed across Sakaeo, Chanthaburi, and Saraburi provinces. The floods have affected 25 provinces, all 50 districts of the capital Bangkok, 128 administrative districts, 587 sub-districts, and 2,500 villages, with 545,022 people from 174,803 households impacted. The department noted that water levels continued to rise in some areas, while they began to recede or stabilize in others, as damage assessments proceeded in preparation for aid delivery. Thai authorities declared a disaster situation in Bangkok following the floods, a decision that enables local authorities to take emergency measures, including accelerating water drainage, setting up temporary shelters, identifying patients and the most vulnerable groups, and documenting damages to facilitate aid and compensation. Thailand has been experiencing widespread flooding and flash floods for days following heavy rainfall and rising water levels, which submerged residential areas, roads, and agricultural land, and damaged homes and public facilities. Authorities continue drainage operations, evacuate residents, provide assistance, and assess losses in affected areas, while Thai rescue and emergency teams continue to inspect flood-affected zones. (End)