Thailand flood death toll rises to seven as relief operations continue

The death toll from floods caused by heavy monsoon rains in Thailand has risen to seven, the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation announced on September 27, as relief efforts press ahead.

According to Thai media, more than 260,000 people across several provinces along the Chao Phraya River have been affected by flooding this week. Authorities had initially reported four fatalities across central Thailand on Tuesday but have since revised the figure upward to seven.

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul visited Ayutthaya province, the worst-hit area, on Saturday in one of his first trips since assuming office. Accompanied by workers from the disaster prevention agency, Anutin instructed officials to distribute survival kits, reinforce flood defences with sandbags, and closely monitor landslide-prone zones.

“We have a whole team to help relieve the people’s hardship, and we plan to respond to your needs,” he told residents during his visit.

Although Thailand was spared the impact of Severe Tropical Storm Bualoi, which battered the Philippines earlier this week, the Meteorological Department has warned of further heavy rainfall in the coming days.

Thailand regularly experiences heavy monsoon rains between June and September, but experts caution that human-induced climate change has intensified extreme weather events, making conditions more unpredictable.

In August, northern Thailand was struck by flooding and landslides triggered by Typhoon Kajiki, which left five people dead and 15 others injured. The country also suffered one of its worst natural disasters in 2011, when widespread flooding killed more than 500 people and damaged millions of homes nationwide.

By Tamilla Hasanova