Severe flooding in five southern provinces is wreaking havoc in 47 districts and impacting more than 128,000 households, with flood-related fatalities rising to eight.
Yesterday, the most serious floods were reported in much of Nakhon Si Thammarat and Koh Samui district of Surat Thani.
They are among the five provinces at the epi-centre of the southern flood crisis. The other three provinces are Chumphon, Ranong and Phatthalung.
Elsewhere in the South, floods affected Trang, Satun, Songkhla, Pattani, Yala, and Narathiwat, although to a lesser degree.
Altogether, 11 southern provinces are experiencing floods.
In its update, the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) said the five worst-affected provinces saw inundation spreading to 47 districts, 274 tambons and 1,998 villages, impacting 128,035 households.
The floods have resulted in eight deaths across these five provinces alone.
In all, the southern floods have so far ravaged 702 districts, 5,050 villages, affected 737,091 households and killed 35 people in the 11 provinces.
In Nakhon Si Thammarat, flooding persists due to continuous heavy rain.
In Tha Sala district, floodwater swept away power poles and submerged key roads, disrupting transport and causing widespread blackouts.
Economic hubs, including Muang district, remain underwater, with flood levels reaching 100-120cm in low-lying areas.
Traffic on main routes, such as Highway 401 connecting Nakhon Si Thammarat and Surat Thani, has been closed to small vehicles.
In Surat Thani's Koh Samui district, torrential rain throughout the night triggered floods in several areas.
Runoff from the mountains surged into villages and commercial zones, paralysing transportation.
Many roads were impassable due to high floodwater. Schools have been closed, and tourists were advised to allow extra time to reach airports and ferry terminals.
A landslide in tambon Maret claimed the lives of two Myanmar construction workers; Aung Ko Ko, 19, and Moe Zet, 39.
Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai emphasised the government's readiness to address the crisis, saying emergency funds have been allocated to flooded zones, and military engineers have been deployed to assist with relief operations.
In addition, local governors and disaster response teams have been directed to prioritise life-saving efforts, distribute emergency supplies and expedite infrastructure repairs.
"The intense flooding is driven by changing natural conditions, posing a new threat that must be considered when mapping out national security plans," he said, adding that a collective effort is needed to meet the challenge.
Meanwhile, Deputy Interior Minister Sabeeda Thaiset confirmed she would visit Nakhon Si Thammarat and Surat Thani today with Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul to assess flood-related damage and provide necessary support to authorities and residents.
