On Thursday, November 24th, authorities warned people living in the southern provinces of Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phatthalung, Songkhla, Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat of heavy downpours and flash flood in coming days. Rains should start affecting southern Thailand on November 26th. Meanwhile, in Bangkok, the situation is improving as floodwaters are gradually receding. The city centre is considered to be safe from flooding and the Victoria Monument area is no longer at risk. However, thousands of homes in northern and western districts of the capital are still under water. Officials maintain levees and barriers in order to avoid water to enter to inner Bangkok. This situation has created tensions between local authorities and residents living outside the city centre who are willing to open the barriers to let more water enter to the capital and to appease the flooded districts areas. Transport disruptions continue to affect large parts of the country.
The severe floods that devastated large parts of Thailand over the past months are still affecting 17 provinces. According to the latest reports released by authorities, floods has claimed at least 610 lives and destroyed the houses of some 13.4 million people. Thailand is facing its worst flooding in decades. Since July, heavy rains have triggered severe floods in most of the country, affecting millions of people and damaging seriously infrastructures. In most of Thailand, the monsoon runs from May to October, with September and October being the peak of the rainy season. In the south-eastern part of the Thai peninsula, the monsoon runs from November to March.
People travelling to Thailand are advised to avoid all the flooded areas. Confirm all your travel arrangements as transport disruptions could spontaneously occur. Listen to all recommendations given by local authorities. Moreover, travellers must be aware that several western embassies advise their citizens against all but essential travel to the southern provinces of Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat and Songkhla, where an Islamic insurgency is going on.
