Flash floods kill 11 in south Thailand

CATHOLIC Church institutions in southern Thailand are helping people affected by flash floods that have hit the region over the past few days.

“It rained for the whole day and night for several days in the south, especially in Nakhon Sri Thammarat province. Many churches and schools were affected. We have supported the affected people with food and drinking water and are now assessing the situation for further support,” said Father Amornkit Prompakdee from the southern Surat Thani diocese.

Media reported that at least 11 people were killed and more than 700,000 others affected as floods swept through eight provinces in southern Thailand. Surat Thani, the largest of the southern provinces where the diocese is based, received 855 mm of rain. The region usually gets only about 50 mm of rain for the month of March.

A Caritas Thailand official told ucanews.com that Caritas staff are presently at a meeting to assess the situation. “We have sent a team to the region to see what help is required and have called on Church institutions to help support affected people.”

Describing the unusually heavy rains, Sister Jintana Rattanasakchaichan of Mariapitak school in Nakhon Sri Thammarat said “Our school was flooded by 1.5 meter high floodwaters. We have never faced such heavy flooding like this before. Our school furniture was destroyed and we lost many documents.”

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