Thailand declares southern province a disaster zone after record rainfall in 300 years

Authorities in Thailand declared the southern province of Songkhla a disaster zone on Monday due to the intense and continuous rains affecting the region, which have led the city of Hat Yai to accumulate record rainfall in 300 years.

A dozen provinces in the southern half of Thailand are experiencing floods, including the tourist Surat Thani, known for housing the islands of Koh Tao and Koh Samui, reported today the Royal Irrigation Department (RID), in charge of flood control. The RID indicated that the accumulated rainfall in the affected areas reached 500 millimeters in just 24 hours in previous days, when Thailand is facing the effects of the monsoon season, which is primarily between May and October.

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Songkhla province, bordering Malaysia, has recorded widespread heavy rainfall, and its governor declared it a disaster zone today for the 16 districts that make it up. Rainfall has been particularly severe since last Wednesday in the town of Hat Yai, which on Friday recorded the heaviest rainfall in a single day in the last 300 years, with accumulations of 335 millimeters. The water level has fluctuated between 0.5 and 2.5 meters in this municipality and the floods are expected to worsen, according to the provincial government, which has ordered the urgent evacuation of all residents of Hat Yai, as well as nearby areas. The RID reported that it has installed 32 pumps and 14 water propellers to accelerate the drainage of water from the flooded southern provinces. “The situation is expected to improve and return to normal within 3 to 5 days,” authorities indicated. Southeast Asia is experiencing a particularly harsh tropical storm and typhoon season this year. Vietnamese authorities reported on Saturday 90 deaths from floods and landslides caused by heavy rains, while Malaysia has evacuated more than 11,000 people due to flooding. This November, Typhoon Kalmaegi caused six fatalities in central Vietnam, after hitting the Philippines, where it left 250 dead and more than 111 missing.