Extreme rainfall

“There have been 33 deaths across seven provinces,” said Thai government spokesperson Siripong Angkasakulkiat. “Causes of death include being swept away by currents, drowning, electrocution, and landslides.”
The city of Hat Yai received 335 mm (13 inches) of rainfall on November 21, the highest single-day rainfall in over 300 years. In the 72 hours between November 19 and 21, Hat Yai received around 630 mm (25 inches) of rainfall, the BBC reported.
The heavy rainfall caused the Khlong U-Taphao and Khlong Phuminat Damri rivers to overflow, resulting in devastating floods.
The flooding has caused damage worth over 500 million baht (15.5 million USD), according to a report by the Nation.
According to the Thai interior ministry, floods have affected more than 980 000 homes and over 2.7 million people across Thailand over the past four days.
Floodwaters inundated the first floor of Hat Yai’s main government hospital, treating 600 patients, including around 50 in intensive care, public health ministry official Somrerk Chungsaman told Reuters.
“Today, all intensive care patients will be transported out of Hat Yai Hospital,” he said.
In Kangar, the capital of Malaysia’s Perlis state, workers moved patients out of the Tuanku Fauziah Hospital on gurneys through knee-high waters.
The Thai military has deployed around 200 boats and 20 helicopters into service in the area, and authorities have received appeals for help from around 77 000 people through social media channels, according to Siripong.
Thailand’s only aircraft carrier, Chakri Naruebet, which set out from its home port on Tuesday, November 25, had joined the relief effort, providing air support, the navy said.
Meanwhile, in Indonesia, flooding and landslides following days of heavy rainfall have killed at least 23 people and left several missing since November 24.