Thai Flood death toll reaches 297, 2 missing

A total of 297 people were confirmed dead and two people were missing in the floods that have inundated the upper part of the country for almost three months, the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department reported on Saturday morning. Eight more people were confirmed dead on Friday in central provinces of Kamphaeng Phet and Nakhon Pathom and northeastern province of Ubon Ratchathani. Northern province of Phichit still has the highest death toll of 45 people, followed by central province of Nakhon Sawan, of which 30 people killed by flood. Flash floods and mudslide occurred due to the heavy monsoon since mid July. Floods still prevail in 61 of 77 provinces, affecting about 2.5 million households and 8.6 million people. Of 61 provinces hit by flood, the situation in 36 provinces, mostly in the north, have slowly been recovering, the report said, while the flood situation in central provinces, especially provinces adjacent to Bangkok, are worsen. About 50 main highways in many provinces are flooded and cannot be passed and some north-bound train routes were canceled.