Floods in Thailand and Malaysia claim dozens of lives: at least 31 dead

Since late November 2024, the southern regions of Thailand and Malaysia have been grappling with devastating floods that have claimed at least 31 lives and forced tens of thousands of residents to evacuate their homes. In Thailand, the hardest-hit provinces include Narathiwat, Pattani, Yala, and Songkhla, where intense monsoon rains have resulted in the deaths of 25 people. In Malaysia, the worst-affected states are Johor, Kelantan, Terengganu, and Pahang, where the disaster has caused six fatalities and the evacuation of approximately 150,000 residents. Authorities in both countries are intensifying rescue efforts, but the scale of the disaster is hindering effective aid delivery.

The most affected regions in Thailand and Malaysia

In Thailand, the floods have impacted ten southern provinces, including Narathiwat, Pattani, Yala, Songkhla, Trang, Phatthalung, Satun, Surat Thani, Krabi, and Nakhon Si Thammarat. Among these, the worst damage has been recorded in Narathiwat, Pattani, Yala, and Songkhla, severely affecting both infrastructure and local communities. According to data from the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM), the floods in Thailand have claimed at least 25 lives. Over 300,000 residents have been forced to leave their homes, seeking shelter in temporary evacuation centers. The province of Songkhla has been particularly hard hit, recording nine fatalities. The floods have affected a total of 87 districts, disrupting the lives of over 664,000 households.

The situation in neighboring Malaysia is equally critical. The greatest destruction occurred in the states of Johor, Kelantan, Terengganu, and Pahang, where torrential rains have caused massive flooding and severe infrastructure paralysis. Six lives have been lost, and approximately 150,000 residents have been evacuated to temporary shelters. Authorities in both Malaysia and Thailand are working intensively to provide basic necessities for displaced populations, but the scale of the disaster has significantly complicated humanitarian efforts.

Floods in Thailand

Thailand’s Disaster Prevention Center announced that floods in eight states have affected 553,000 homes, with nine people reported dead. pic.twitter.com/6hhpnpAqUt

— IHH Humanitarian Relief Foundation (@IHHen) December 2, 2024

Causes of the catastrophic floods

The monsoon season in Southeast Asia traditionally brings heavy rainfall, but this year’s rains have far exceeded seasonal norms, leading to an unprecedented crisis. Malaysia’s Prime Minister, Anwar Ibrahim, reported that within five days last week, the eastern region of the country experienced rainfall equivalent to six months’ worth of precipitation. Preliminary estimates suggest that rebuilding the damaged infrastructure will require around 1 billion ringgit (approximately 915 million PLN).

The relentless rains have also triggered landslides, further complicating the situation by destroying roads and cutting off many communities from aid. The destruction has significantly impacted the agricultural sector, including palm oil, rice, and rubber plantations, as well as numerous public facilities such as schools and hospitals.