226,000 evacuated in Thailand and Malaysia flooding
Death toll rises to 24 as monsoon rains hit
By P Prem Kumar
KUALA LUMPUR
Floods in Malaysia and Thailand – the worst in more than 30 years – led to 24 deaths and the evacuation of more than 200,000 people by Monday.
The annual northeast monsoon has been particularly heavy with 10 reported dead in northeastern Malaysia and 14 killed in southern Thailand.
In six states across Malaysia 226,000 people had been displaced by the flood waters as of Monday afternoon local time, authorities said.
Rescue service chief Wan Mohd Nor Ibrahim told The Anadolu Agency that the number of registered evacuees rose to 151,072 in Kelantan state alone, up from 134,139 Sunday.
"We were expecting the rain to stop but [there is] no such sign to date,” Ibrahim said. “The water is spreading its reach and we are still evacuating more victims."
Kelantan is Malaysia's worst hit state, with 128 families housed at 309 relief centers across eight districts, national news agency Bernama reported. Five of the fatalities were reported in the northeastern state that faces the Gulf of Thailand.
Relief volunteers have faced logistical problems supplying food and clean water to the worst hit areas. Tons of aid are stranded in Kota Bharu, the capital of Kelantan, having arrived by plane.
Aid workers said a lack of boats was hampering distribution to outlying villages, the Malaysian Insider reported.
Education Minister Muhyiddin Yassin announced on Monday that schools in would remain closed for a further week. Around 340 schools are affected by the floods.
Across the border in Thailand, the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation reported persistent flooding in the three southern-most provinces.
Heavy rains and strong winds were expected in the area up until the New Year, the Bangkok Post said, citing the Thai Meteorological Department.
Severe weather warnings were issued Monday for the Gulf of Thailand with heavy winds and waves expected.
The post reported that 1,415 villages have been affected and 237 schools closed.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha last week declared the region a disaster zone.
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