- 534,000 families in Thailand were affected by natural disasters.
- 139,000 Malaysians were affected by floods in nine states.
- Prime Minister Shehbaz expresses his “deep sympathy” to Malaysia.
BANGKOK (Reuters) – The death toll from the worst floods in decades in southern Thailand and northern Malaysia rose to at least 12 people on Saturday, authorities said, while tens of thousands of people were evacuated due to rising water levels in the past three days.
In southern Thailand, floods affected nearly 534,000 families, with the death toll rising to nine from four reported on Friday and leaving thousands in 200 temporary shelters set up in affected areas, the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department said.
The Chana district in Songkhla province was hit by the worst floods in 50 years, and video footage showed people being transferred to trucks from their homes that were submerged by floodwaters.
Other video footage showed rescuers in the Sateng Nok district of Yala Province removing a child from the roof of a house hit by floods on Saturday.
In neighboring Malaysia, floods have affected nearly 139,000 people in nine states, killing three since Friday, according to the National Disaster Command Centre.
The Thai Meteorological Department said several areas in southern Thailand could expect more heavy rain on Saturday and warned of more flash floods in affected areas.
The neighboring Philippines was hit by six typhoons in just one month in November, causing widespread devastation.
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday expressed his sincere condolences on behalf of the people of Pakistan to the brotherly people of Malaysia over the loss of life and property resulting from the recent floods due to heavy rains in several states in the country.
In his phone conversation with his Malaysian counterpart, Anwar Ibrahim, the Prime Minister stressed that the people of Pakistan stand in solidarity with their Malaysian brothers and sisters during this difficult time.
He also expressed his appreciation for the quick and effective measures taken by the Malaysian government to address this natural disaster.
The Prime Minister offered all possible assistance to Malaysia and announced the immediate dispatch of humanitarian aid as a gesture of Pakistan’s support to its Malaysian brothers and sisters.