- 534,000 households in Thailand impacted from natural disaster.
- 139,000 Malaysians affected from floods in nine states.
- PM Shehbaz expresses “deepest sympathies” for Malaysia.
BANGKOK: The death toll from the worst floods in decades in southern Thailand and northern Malaysia climbed to at least 12 on Saturday, authorities said, as tens of thousands of people were evacuated due to rising water levels in the past three days.
In southern Thailand, the floods have impacted nearly 534,000 households, with the death toll climbing to nine from four reported on Friday and leaving thousands in 200 temporary shelters that have been set up in affected areas, the department of disaster prevention and mitigation said.
The Chana district of Songkhla province suffered the worst floods in 50 years, with video footage showing people being carried out to trucks from their homes inundated by a torrent of flood water.
Another video footage showed rescuers in Sateng Nok District of Yala province carrying a baby out from the roof of a home hit by the floods on Saturday.
In neighbouring Malaysia, the floods have impacted nearly 139,000 people in nine states, leaving three dead since Friday, according to the National Disaster Command Centre.
Thailand’s meteorological department said that several areas in southern Thailand can expect more heavy rain on Saturday and warn of more flash floods in effected areas.
Neighbouring Philippines was hit by six typhoons in just month in November, causing widespread devastation.
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday expressed deepest sympathies on behalf of the Pakistani people for the brotherly people of Malaysia over the loss of lives and property caused by recent floods due to torrential rains in several states of the country.
The prime minister in his telephonic conversation with his Malaysian counterpart Anwar Ibrahim, assured that the people of Pakistan stood in solidarity with their Malaysian brothers and sisters during this challenging time.
He also appreciated the swift and effective measures taken by the Malaysian government to address this natural calamity.
The prime minister offered all possible assistance to Malaysia and announced the immediate dispatch of humanitarian aid as a gesture of Pakistan’s support for its Malaysian brothers and sisters.
