Six Dead by Southern Thailand Floods

Debris and contents of houses in Narathiwat Province, southern Thailand. (AFP)
Debris and contents of houses in Narathiwat Province, southern Thailand. (AFP)
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Six Dead by Southern Thailand Floods

Debris and contents of houses in Narathiwat Province, southern Thailand. (AFP)
Debris and contents of houses in Narathiwat Province, southern Thailand. (AFP)

Floods in southern Thailand have killed at least six people and affected tens of thousands of households, authorities said on Wednesday.

The floods, which began on December 22, have hit more than 70,000 homes across the provinces of Satun, Songkhla, Pattani, Yala, and Narathiwat, regional officials said.

Six people including an 89-year old woman and a toddler were killed in Narathiwat, deputy provincial governor Preecha Nualnoi told AFP.

Another person was still missing following days of intense rain, which sparked floodwaters that reached around three meters in height in some places, he said.

Local media footage showed streets submerged by the muddy deluge and residents taking refuge on rooftops.

Relief teams worked by night to hand out bottled water and snacks, as well as check buildings for damage or casualties.

Thailand’s Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation said the water level had reduced on the morning of December 27.



Southern Taiwan Hit by 6.4 Magnitude Quake, TSMC Evacuates Some Factories

A view of the traffic in Taipei, Taiwan January 17, 2025. (Reuters)
A view of the traffic in Taipei, Taiwan January 17, 2025. (Reuters)
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Southern Taiwan Hit by 6.4 Magnitude Quake, TSMC Evacuates Some Factories

A view of the traffic in Taipei, Taiwan January 17, 2025. (Reuters)
A view of the traffic in Taipei, Taiwan January 17, 2025. (Reuters)

A 6.4 magnitude earthquake struck a mountainous area of Taiwan's south on Tuesday near the city of Chiayi, the island's weather administration said, with reports of initial minor damage.

Chipmaker TSMC said it had evacuated staff at its factories in central and southern Taiwan.

The quake shook buildings in the capital, Taipei. The quake had a depth of 9.4 km (6 miles) with its epicenter in Dapu township, the weather administration said.

The fire department said three people were trapped in a damaged building in the city of Tainan and rescue workers were on their way.

The science park in Tainan, home to major factories including of chipmaker TSMC, said buildings were evacuated.

Taiwan lies near the junction of two tectonic plates and is prone to earthquakes.

In April, a 7.2 magnitude quake hit the east coast county of Hualien, killing 13 people.

More than 100 people were killed in a quake in southern Taiwan in 2016 and a 7.3 magnitude quake killed more than 2,000 people in 1999.