THAILAND INTENSIFIES FLOOD RESPONSE IN SOUTH

BANGKOK, Nov 24 (Bernama) -- Thailand has stepped up emergency operations in 10 flood-hit southern provinces, deploying machinery and response teams to speed up assistance as severe monsoon rains continue to worsen conditions.

Thailand’s Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) has activated its operation centres and mobilised disaster-relief equipment and personnel in coordination with provincial authorities to deliver immediate assistance.

Its director-general Teerapat Kachamat said the department is closely monitoring weather patterns and the flood situation, particularly in southern provinces currently affected by strong northeastern monsoon winds over the Gulf of Thailand, the southern region and the Andaman Sea.

“The severe weather has caused heavy to very heavy rainfall in many areas, resulting in widespread flooding across 10 southern provinces, including Surat Thani, Krabi, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Trang, Phatthalung, Satun, Songkhla, Pattani, Yala, and Narathiwat,” he said in a statement on Monday.

He said flooding has affected 92 districts, 581 subdistricts and 4,146 villages, impacting 719,858 households (1,917,521 people).

Teerapat added that water levels across the region continue to rise.

“DDPM has instructed disaster prevention and mitigation centres nationwide to mobilise machinery and operation teams to assist in the South, deploying personnel and resources to both flood-affected and flood-risk areas,” he said.

Meanwhile, in the northern and central regions, Teerapat said flooding remains in 11 provinces, affecting 49 districts, 441 subdistricts and 2,902 villages, with 144,327 households (487,255 people) impacted.

He said that although water levels in these northern and central provinces are gradually receding, DDPM will continue to monitor the situation and coordinate relief efforts until conditions fully return to normal.

Authorities have urged residents in high-risk areas to closely follow official updates and warnings, and those instructed to evacuate should move immediately to designated safe zones.

-- BERNAMA