Floods Surround 16 Thai Provinces, Dozens Of People Died

UNSPLASH ILLUSTRATION/burned Roy

Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul on Monday ordered emergency relief efforts after floods triggered by heavy rains and storms for days hit 16 provinces over the past week.

Floods killed 12 people and affected more than 100,000 households.

The Interior Ministry said the floods submerged parts of northern, central and northeastern Thailand, with Uttaradit Province, where five people were killed, including the worst affected.

"The water was rising so hard and we moved to the roof, but the roof collapsed and we had to leave," said resident, who only mentioned his first name, Sakchai, to state television station ThaiPBS.

"We now live in a temple," he continued.

Anutin said officials were trying to send aid and estimate the damage. They are also preparing to face more rain as the rainy season comes.

"Thailand is facing floods, storms and landslides in many provinces, causing severe property damage and casualties," he said at a task force meeting.

Last year, 22 people died as a result of flash floods and landslides caused by rainy season rains across Thailand.