Thailand’s south battered by floods
31 Mar 2011
Severe flooding in southern Thailand has left thousands of tourists stranded and 21 people dead. Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat and Samui airports are currently closed and trains to the region have been cancelled.
Tourists and villagers are being rescued by the Thai navy, which has sent out four vessels, including an aircraft that lands in water, to the stricken region. Vital supplies are also being dropped off by helicopter.
The Thai government has insisted that the nation’s army and navy are working together to ensure those at risk from mudslides are evacuated as more rain and harsh winds are expected over the next few days.
The heavy downpours seen in the south of the country are extremely unusual for this time of year, which is usually characterised by intensely hot and dry weather. The monsoon season is not due for at least another month, with the Thai new year festival Songkran (April 13 – 15) usually celebrated amid scorching sunshine.
Nearly a million people have reportedly been affected by the weather, with at least 10 people thought to have died in remote areas of the Krabi province due to unexpected mudslides. At least another 10 are currently missing.
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