The death toll from floods triggered by relentless monsoon rains in Thailand has climbed to seven, officials confirmed on Saturday, as rescue and relief operations continue across the country.
According to the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, more than 260,000 people in several provinces along the Chao Phraya River have been affected by rising waters this week.
The agency had earlier reported four fatalities on Tuesday but revised the figure upward after additional casualties were confirmed.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul on Saturday visited Ayutthaya province, one of the hardest-hit regions, marking one of his first field visits since assuming office.
Surrounded by disaster relief workers, he instructed local authorities to distribute emergency supplies, fortify flood defenses with sandbags, and monitor landslide-prone areas.
“We have a whole team working to relieve people’s hardship, and we are ready to respond to your needs,” Anutin assured residents during the visit.
Thailand was spared the direct impact of Severe Tropical Storm Bualoi, which battered the Philippines earlier this week, but the Meteorological Department has warned of continued heavy rainfall in the days ahead.
Seasonal monsoon rains typically drench the kingdom from June to September, but experts warn that climate change is intensifying extreme weather patterns, making floods and landslides more frequent and unpredictable.
Just last month, five people were killed and 15 injured in flash floods and landslides in northern Thailand following Typhoon Kajiki.
The country still bears scars from the catastrophic floods of 2011, which claimed more than 500 lives and devastated millions of homes nationwide.
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