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Thailand: Floods - Dec 2016

Disaster description

Continuous heavy rains caused widespread flooding across 11 provinces in southern Thailand. As of 9 January, over 330,300 households were affected and authorities reported 21 deaths. The Government upgraded the disaster management response level to 3 (large scale disaster) and established disaster command centres in Surat Thani and Songkla to coordinate the national response. With rains forecast to continue until 10 January, a public warning on potential landslides was issued. The UN Resident Coordinator has issued a letter to the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) offering support. (OCHA, 9 Jan 2017)

The flood death toll in the South reached 91 on 28 January 2017. Four people remain missing, according to the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM). The deaths and missing persons were reported across 12 provinces, said Chatchai Promlert, DDPM director-general. These areas have been plagued by flooding since 1 December. About 1.8 million people and 590,000 families have suffered from the floods' effects. The floods have also damaged 4,314 roads, 348 bridges, 270 drains, 126 weirs, two reservoirs, 70 government offices and 2,336 schools, said Mr Chatchai. (Bangkok Post, 29 Jan 2017)

By 3 February, Thailand's Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation had reported that three provinces were still dealing with flooding. More than 3,400 households were affected. (Govt. Thailand, 03 Feb 2017)

On 14 February, Thai authorities downgraded the disaster management response level for the floods from Level 3 to Level 2, or from a large-scale disaster to a medium-scale disaster. (Govt. of Thailand, 14 Feb 2017)

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