Death toll from floods in southern Thailand rises to 162

ISTANBUL

The death toll from devastating floods in southern Thailand climbed to 162 on Saturday, with over one million households across the country affected, according to local media.

Government spokesman Siripong Angkasakulkiat said on Saturday that the death toll from catastrophic floods in the Songkhla province alone rose to 126, according to Thai PBS.

Besides Songkhla, the death toll in other southern provinces includes nine people in Nakhon Si Thammarat, four in Phatthalung, two in Trang, five in Satun, seven in Pattani, five in Yala, and four in Narathiwat.

The flooding, the worst in 25 years, trapped thousands of people in their houses this week, with Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul pledging monetary compensation for each fatality.

Teerapat Kachamat, director general of the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department, said Thursday that flooding was affecting 105 districts across nine southern provinces, impacting over 1.07 million households and more than 2.9 million people.

Emergency response teams have been sent to assist with evacuations, deliver food and water, and provide mobile kitchens, water purification units, and rescue boats.

Anutin declared a state of emergency on Tuesday in Songkhla, with the Royal Thai Armed Forces supreme commander tasked with leading the emergency response.