Tens of thousands are impacted as Thailand's south experiences catastrophic floods
Roads and railroads flooded, schools shuttered, and residents were pushed onto their rooftops in the pouring rain.
Severe flooding has impacted tens of thousands of people in southern Thailand, causing extensive damage by submerging roads and railways, prompting school closures, and leaving residents stranded in their homes.
Narathiwat province, located in the country's far south near the Malaysian border, bore the brunt of the flooding, with certain districts underwater for an extended period, as reported by Thai PBS. Numerous individuals have sought assistance, and reports indicate some residents are stranded on the roofs of their flooded homes.
In response to the flooding, at least a dozen schools in Narathiwat and the adjacent province of Yala have been compelled to close. Visuals from the affected region depict homes and shops inundated with water. The persistent, heavy rainfall over several days has also resulted in maritime challenges, leading to the sinking of at least seven boats in the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea since Friday.
The state railway company of Thailand has reported track subsidence, causing trains destined for Malaysia to halt at Yala, approximately 100 kilometers (62 miles) away from the border.
With the situation evolving, authorities have issued warnings to residents in the affected provinces, urging them to be prepared for possible evacuations if the flooding intensifies.
This recent bout of severe flooding echoes similar incidents in December of the previous year, where serious floods in the region claimed the lives of at least three individuals. The current situation underscores the ongoing vulnerability of the region to weather-related disasters, emphasizing the need for vigilance and preparedness among the local population.
