Floods kill at least 13, displace millions in Southern Thailand (VIDEOS)

Heavy flooding in southern Thailand has killed at least 13 people and displaced nearly 2 million across multiple provinces Read Full Article at RT.com

Floods kill at least 13, displace millions in Southern Thailand (VIDEOS)

Torrential monsoon rains have swamped ten provinces, trapping residents and prompting mass evacuations

Days of heavy monsoon rains in southern Thailand have killed at least 13 people and displaced nearly 2 million, local media reported on Tuesday, citing official estimates.

According to the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, as of Monday, floodwaters had hit ten southern provinces, with water levels in some areas rising as high as two meters.

Local officials said the southern city of Hat Yai in the province of Songkhla, a major rubber-trading hub, has been hit the hardest, recording rainfall of 335 mm in a single day on Friday – the highest in 300 years of systematic observations. Around 7,000 foreign tourists – mostly from Malaysia and Singapore – were reported trapped in Hat Yai.

Flooding has disrupted mobile networks and electricity in several areas. The Chana Power Plant in Songkhla temporarily halted operations due to rising water, though other power stations remain functional.

Footage posted online showed entire roads underwater and brown torrents rushing through the streets of Hat Yai’s commercial district. Residents were seen wading through deep water as emergency crews used boats to rescue people and deliver supplies.