The death toll from the most devastating floods in decades across southern Thailand and northern Malaysia has risen to at least 19, authorities reported on Monday. Tens of thousands of residents have been forced to evacuate as relentless rains over the past three days triggered rising water levels and widespread destruction.
Thailand Faces Worst Flooding in Decades
Southern Thailand has been severely impacted, with nearly 640,000 households affected. The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation confirmed that 12 people have died, and thousands have sought refuge in 200 temporary shelters established in the region.
In Songkhla’s Chana district, the floods have been described as the worst in 50 years. Video footage captured scenes of residents being carried to safety on trucks as their homes were submerged in torrents of floodwater. In Sateng Nok, Yala province, rescue workers were seen delivering bottled water to stranded households and evacuating children from rooftops.
The Thai Meteorological Department has warned of continued heavy rains and potential flash floods in affected areas.
Malaysia Struggles with Rising Water Levels
In neighboring Malaysia, approximately 139,000 people across nine states have been displaced, with three fatalities recorded since Friday, according to the National Disaster Command Centre.
Hulu Terengganu, a district in Malaysia’s Terengganu state, was among the hardest hit. Images showed men wading through chest-deep floodwaters and paddling boats to attend prayers at a local mosque, highlighting the resilience of those impacted.
Regional Devastation
The floods are part of a broader pattern of extreme weather in Southeast Asia. In the Philippines, six typhoons struck during November alone, leaving widespread devastation in their wake.
Authorities across Thailand and Malaysia are coordinating rescue and relief efforts while bracing for further rain in the days ahead. The disaster underscores the urgent need for improved infrastructure and climate resilience as the region grapples with increasingly severe weather events.
