Thailand's Flood Death Toll Reaches 261, 2.3 Million Affected

BANGKOK (NNN-Xinhua) -- Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation reported on Sunday that flooding situation still continued in 30 provinces, making flood death toll 261 with four missing. 

Wibul Sanguanpong, director-general of the department, said those 30 provinces still facing floods included Sukhothai, Phichit, Nakhon Sawan, Uthai Thani, Chai Nat, Sing Buri, Ang Thong, Ayutthaya, Lop Buri, Saraburi, Suphan Buri, Nakhon Pathom, Pathum Thani, Nonthaburi, Nakhon Nayok, Kamphaeng Phet, Tak in central region, Ubon Ratchathani, Khon Kaen, Si Sa Ket, Surin, Roi-et, Nakhon Ratchasima, Buri Ram in northeastern region, Prachin Buri in eastern region and northern Chiang Mai provinces.

Approximately 2.34 million people in 10,130 villages have been hit by flood waters.

In one of the most affected Ayudhaya, an ancient city in central plain, authorities have begun to evacuate patients from Ayutthaya Hospital, where flood waters rose over two meters high.

Most of the 600 patients were being evacuated to the city hall while those requiring intensive medical care would be flown to hospitals in Bangkok by helicopters, according to the department.

The country is among the South East Asian countries -- Cambodia, the Philippines and Vietnam, which have been lashed by tropical storms and heavy monsoon-triggered rains. Since July 25, the country continues to suffer from widespread floods, which was said the worst since 1995. – NNN-Xinhua