Historic monsoon in Thailand: At least 19 killed in floods

ISLAMABAD: At least 19 people died after a series of heavy monsoon rains broke a 300-year record in some areas of southern Thailand, authorities said.

The Smart Water Operation Center reported that southern provinces received a total of 630 millimeters of rain over three days starting November 19. Hat Yai alone recorded 335 millimeters in a single day on November 21, the highest ever in the district.

The torrential rains caused rivers and canals to overflow, leading to widespread flooding. The Thai Ministry of Health confirmed that 19 people lost their lives due to floods and incidents like electrocution.

In November, Vietnamese authorities scrambled to find at least 13 people still missing after a week of relentless flooding that has claimed more than 55 lives.

Since late October, heavy rain has battered south-central Vietnam, hitting popular tourist cities and mountainous regions. Coastal Nha Trang saw entire blocks submerged, while deadly landslides swept through highland passes near the Da Lat resort area.

The environment ministry said Dak Lak province in the central highlands suffered the worst losses, with over two dozen fatalities reported. Rescuers continued to pull people from treetops and rooftops as floodwaters slowly receded.