The death toll from severe flooding in southern Thailand has risen to 33, officials confirmed on Wednesday, as authorities scramble to rescue stranded residents and deliver critical aid. The fatalities resulted from landslides and electrocution, government spokesperson Siripong Angkasakulkiat said.
The floods, which have affected nine Thai provinces and eight Malaysian states for a second consecutive year, have forced nearly 45,000 people to evacuate across both countries. In neighbouring Indonesia, eight to 13 deaths have been reported following floods and landslides this week, while Malaysia has recorded at least one fatality.
In Hat Yai, one of the hardest-hit cities, helicopters are being deployed to evacuate critically ill patients from the main government hospital, where floodwaters have inundated the first floor. The hospital, treating some 600 patients—including 50 in intensive care—now relies on airlifts for patient transport and food delivery. “Today, all intensive care patients will be transported out of Hat Yai Hospital,” said public health official Somrerk Chungsaman.
Rescue operations are under way with around 20 helicopters and 200 boats, although reaching stranded residents has proven challenging, Siripong said. The combined number of patients, medical staff, and relatives at the hospital is estimated at 2,000, with supplies being brought in as waters slowly recede.
Hat Yai recorded 335 mm (13 inches) of rainfall in a single day last week, marking the heaviest downpour in 300 years. Military helicopters have also transported generators to the hospital, while the Thai Navy deployed its only aircraft carrier, Chakri Naruebet, to provide air support, medical assistance, and meals for relief operations.
The Interior Ministry reports that over 980,000 homes and 2.7 million people across nine provinces, including Songkhla where Hat Yai is located, have been affected. Meteorologists forecast more heavy rain and scattered thundershowers in several southern provinces.
Rescue teams have been pulling families, including children and the elderly, from homes submerged in fast-moving floodwaters. Many affected residents have turned to social media to call for help. One woman appealed online for her 53-year-old mother in Hat Yai, saying supplies had dwindled to a single bottle of water and two packs of instant noodles.
Authorities continue to mobilise aircraft, trucks, and boats to deliver essential supplies and ensure the safe evacuation of stranded communities as southern Thailand faces an ongoing humanitarian crisis.
Melissa Enoch
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