The death toll from devastating floods in southern Thailand has surpassed 80 people as floodwaters finally began to recede on Thursday, according to official reports.
Rising Casualties and Widespread Impact
Government officials confirmed the tragic milestone as flood-related deaths in Songkhla province alone surged from six to 55 on Thursday, dramatically increasing the overall death toll across seven affected provinces to at least 82 people.
Approximately 1 million households and more than 3 million residents have been affected by the catastrophic flooding triggered by torrential rains across 12 southern provinces, the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation reported.
The flooding crisis, which began during the weekend, submerged vast areas and caused fatalities in multiple provinces including Nakhon Si Thammarat, Patthalung, Songkhla, Trang, Satun, Pattani and Yala.
Emergency Response and Ongoing Challenges
While floodwaters had receded in many provinces by Thursday morning, water levels remained dangerously high in some areas, particularly Pattani and Nakhon Si Thammarat.
Government spokesperson Siripong Angkasakulkiat stated during a Bangkok news conference that officials expected water levels to drop below river banks in all affected areas by Thursday evening.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul had earlier declared a state of emergency in Songkhla province, which includes southern Thailand's largest city, Hat Yai, citing the "unprecedented severity" of the flooding situation.
Infrastructure Damage and Healthcare Crisis
Video footage from Hat Yai showed water levels had dropped by Thursday, revealing extensive damage throughout the city. The flooding caused severe disruption, trapping thousands of residents and cutting essential services.
Electricity and water supplies were severed and communication lines disrupted across multiple areas, compounding the emergency response challenges.
The Public Health Ministry established eight field hospitals to support Hat Yai Hospital, which remained unable to operate at full capacity due to flood damage. In a critical medical evacuation operation, 20 critically ill patients were airlifted to safety on Thursday, while additional food supplies were delivered to medical staff and remaining patients.
The scale of the disaster has prompted a massive relief operation as authorities work to assess the full extent of damage and coordinate recovery efforts across the affected regions.
