Thai flash floods death toll rises to 35
Relatives and rescue workers look for survivors and victims' bodies at a waterfall following a flash flood in Thailand's southern Trang province. Rescue efforts continued Sunday for a missing woman, the only person still unaccounted for after flash floods killed 37 tourists who were cooling off in two waterfalls in southern Thailand.(AFP/Tuwaedaniya Meringing)
The death toll in flash floods which swept scores of Thai New Year holidaymakers over three waterfalls in the southern province of Trang rose to 35 on Sunday, disaster officials said.
Another 30 people are thought to be missing and rescue teams began a second day of searching the area.
The flash floods, triggered by heavy rains, swept over the waterfalls 10 km apart in the Bantad Hill Range, the Health Ministry’s Relief Centre said.
Most of the victims were swimming below the Sai Roong (Rainbow) and Prai Sawan (Heavenly Forest) falls during a long weekend holiday for the new year Songkran festival, Trang governor Arnon Manasvanich said.
“The search is continuing but my belief is we might find more bodies of women and children as they couldn’t escape in time,” he said.
The dead included thirteen children — 10 boys and three girls. The waterfalls are a popular destination for local families at holiday times.
Category: Thailand
