The death toll from the worst floods in decades in southern Thailand and northern Malaysia on Saturday rose to at least 12, authorities said, forcing tens of thousands of residents to flee as water levels threatened to rise over the past three days. Moved to locations.
In southern Thailand, floods have affected about 534,000 households, with the death toll rising to nine from four reported on Friday, and 200 temporary shelters set up in affected areas, the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation said. Thousands of people have been abandoned in shelters.
Chana district in Songkhla province suffered its worst floods in 50 years, with video footage showing people being driven from their homes in trucks by surging floodwaters.
Another video footage shows rescue workers carrying a child from the roof of a flood-hit house in Satang Nok district of Yala province on Saturday.
In neighboring Malaysia, floods have affected about 139,000 people in nine states, with three deaths since Friday, according to the National Disaster Command Center.
Thailand’s Meteorological Department has said that more heavy rain is expected in many areas of southern Thailand on Saturday and further flood warnings may be issued in affected areas.
The neighboring Philippines was hit by six typhoons in November alone, causing widespread devastation.
Prime Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has on Saturday expressed his heartfelt sympathy to the brotherly people of Malaysia on behalf of the people of Pakistan for the loss of lives and property caused by the recent floods as a result of torrential rains in several states of the country.
In a telephonic conversation with his Malaysian counterpart Anwar Ibrahim, the Prime Minister assured that the people of Pakistan stand with their Malaysian brothers and sisters in this hour of difficulty.
He also appreciated the speedy and effective measures taken by the Malaysian government to deal with this natural disaster.
The Prime Minister offered all possible assistance to Malaysia and announced the immediate dispatch of humanitarian aid as a gesture of Pakistan’s support to its Malaysian brothers and sisters.