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Thai PM orders immediate relief after floods in 16 provinces kill 12

Anutin Charnvirakul, the Thai prime minister, ordered Monday urgent relief efforts following flooding caused by heavy rains and storms that hit 16 provinces in the last week. Twelve people were killed and more than 100,000 homes were affected.

The Interior Ministry reported that floods had inundated areas of northern, central, and northeastern Thailand. Uttaradit Province in the upper north region, which saw five deaths, was among the worst affected.

The water was rising so quickly that we had to move to the roof, but when it collapsed, we were forced to leave, said a resident who only gave his first name Sakchai to state broadcaster ThaiPBS.

He said, "We are staying in a temple right now."

Anutin stated that officials were working on delivering aid and assessing the damage. As the monsoons begin, they are also preparing themselves for more rain.

At a meeting of the task force, he stated that Thailand is experiencing floods, storms, and landslides in many provinces. This has caused extensive property damage and death.

In Thailand, flash floods caused by monsoon rainfall killed 22 people last year. Reporting by Chayut setboonsarng, Panarat thepgumpanat and David Stanway.

(source: Reuters)