Flash floods triggered by intense monsoon rains in Thailand have resulted in 22 fatalities in the past few days, according to disaster officials on Monday. They cautioned about the potential for additional unexpected flooding this week. The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation reported that 19 individuals were injured and over 30,000 households were impacted across 13 provinces during the last 10 days. Among the casualties were 10 people, including a Russian couple, who perished when a landslide struck a residential area on the well-known resort island of Phuket last week. The department also alerted that 31 provinces in the northern and northeastern regions of the country could experience flash floods until Thursday. "The department has instructed local authorities to closely monitor the weather...and have teams and equipment ready," a statement read. "People should also pay attention to weather forecasts and take warnings seriously," it added. In Bangkok, local authorities advised residents in the city's outskirts and along the river to prepare to relocate their belongings to higher ground. Additionally, three workers, including two Chinese nationals and one from Myanmar, were reported missing on Monday after soil collapsed into a high-speed train tunnel under construction in the Pak Chong district of Nakhon Ratchasima. Although Thailand faces annual monsoon rains, human-induced climate change is intensifying weather patterns, increasing the likelihood of severe floods.
Text: Lara Palmer
26.08.2024
Disaster officials warn of more flooding as over 30,000 households are affected across 13 provinces.