Disaster authorities report severe flooding in 9 southern provinces of Thailand and 5 states in Peninsular Malaysia after heavy rain from 17 December 2022. Four people have died and thousands of people displaced. Meanwhile, search and rescue operations in the Selangor state of Malaysia have confirmed 24 people have now died in the landslide that struck a campsite on 16 December 2022.
Floods in Southern Thailand
Areas of southern Thailand recorded more than 500 mm of rain in 24 hours on 18 December 2022.
Thailand’s Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) flooding in the southern provinces of Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Trang, Phatthalung, Satun, Songkhla, Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat. A total of 49 districts and 51,543 households have been affected.
The hardest hit areas were Narathiwat, Nakhon Si Thammarat and Songkhla Provinces.
In Narathiwat, 3 people died after being swept away by flood waters, DDPM said. Almost 30,000 households across 13 districts have been affected by flooding. Affected districts include Sukhirin, Si Sakhon, Rueso, Ra-ngae, Chanae, Mueang Narathiwat, Cho-airong, Su-ngai Padi, Bacho, Waeng, Su-ngai Kolok, Tak Bai and Yi-ngo.
Nakhon Si Thammarat recorded flooding in 6 districts: Pak Phanang, Mueang Nakhon Si Thammarat, Sichon, Chaloem Phra Kiat, Chiang Yai and Chulabhorn, with 9,820 households affected.
In Songkhla, flooding struck 8 districts: Mueang Songkhla, Rattaphum, Khuan Niang, Hat Yai, Na Mom, Chana, Bang Klam and Ranot, impacting 11,616 households.
Elsewhere, 455 households were affected in Pattani, 448 households in Trang, and 90 households in Yala.
Thai Meteorological Department reported that in a 24 hours period to 18 December 2022, Narathiwat recorded 545.4 mm of rain, Pattani 310.5 mm and Songkhla 401.5 mm.
National Thai Water reported rivers were overflowing in around 25 locations across the south.
Bouts of heavy rain and flooding occurred in the provinces of Phatthalung, Songkhla, Pattani, Yala, and Narathiwat during the first 2 weeks of December. Around 15,400 households (77,000 people) were affected. One fatality was reported in Songkhla province.
Floods in Peninsular Malaysia
Flooding has continued to affect parts of neighbouring Malaysia. News Agency Bernama reported a child died in food waters Kampung Apal in Terengganu state on 18 December.
Regional and national disaster authorities reported 28,686 people displaced and staying in 308 evacuation centres in the states of Johor, Kelantan, Pahang, Perak and Terengganu were affected as of 19 December. Several roads and bridges have been damaged. In total, 81 incidents of flooding and 15 landslides were reported.
As many as 16,026 people have been displaced in 205 evacuation centres in Besut, Dungun, Hulu Terengganu, Kemaman, Kuala Terengganu, Marang and Setiu districts in Terengganu State. Several parts of the state recorded more than 400 mm of rain in 24 hours on 18 December.
Almost 12,000 people have been displaced in Kelantan State, where flooding was reported in Bachok, Jeli, Kota Bharu, Kuala Krai, Machang, Pasir Mas, Pasir Puteh, Tanah Merah, and Tumpat districts.
Around 500 people have been displaced in Kuantan and Raub in Pahang State, and a further 75 in Johor and 49 in Perak.
Selangor Landslide Death Toll Rises
Search and rescue operations are ongoing at the site of the massive landslide that occurred at a campsite in Batang Kali in Hulu Selangor district on 16 December 2022. As of 18 December, 24 fatalities were reported, with 7 injured and 9 people still missing.
