At least 13 people have died in four flood-hit provinces, officials said.
How is Thailand responding to the floods?
Also on Tuesday, Thailand prepared to deploy a naval flotilla of 14 boats and the aircraft carrier Chakri Naruebet, which will carry helicopters, medical teams, supplies and field kitchens capable of producing 3,000 meals a day.
“The fleet is ready to deliver troops and respond to Royal Navy orders,” the navy said in a statement. He said that this carrier can serve as a floating hospital.
The national meteorological agency warned of persistent heavy rain and possible flooding, advising small boats to stay near shore due to the possibility of waves more than three meters high.
Television footage showed rescue teams in Hat Yai using boats, jetskis and military trucks to rescue people amid high water levels. Some families used inflatable children’s pools to carry their children to safety. The provincial administration said more than 1,200 people had been rescued from flooded homes, and Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul announced additional boats and trucks to assist in evacuation efforts.
Thailand regularly experiences heavy monsoon rains between June and September, but experts say human-induced climate change is increasing the frequency and severity of extreme weather. Due to torrential rains since the end of last week, Hat Yai and surrounding areas have been submerged and evacuation is still underway.
Beyond Songkhla and Hat Yai, flooding has affected nine provinces in Thailand and eight states in neighboring Malaysia. According to officials, water reached two meters in some areas, affecting an estimated 1.9 million people.
Edited by: Jennifer Cimino Gonzalez
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