Neha Patil (Editor)

2011 Southern Thailand floods

Updated on
Edit
Like
Comment
Share on FacebookTweet on TwitterShare on LinkedInShare on Reddit
Date
  
23 March 2011  ongoing

Deaths
  
53

Location
  
Thailand

Property damage
  
At least $500 million (USD)

The 2011 Thai floods occurred at the end of March 2011, normally the latter part of the dry season (Thai: ฤดูแล้ง reutdu lang or หน้าแล้ง nah lang) in tropical Thailand. Heavy rain fell in the southern region, with over 120 centimetres (47 in) of rain falling in certain areas.

Contents

Impact

At least 53 people have died and almost nine million people have been affected by the floods after localized heavy rains The flooding has affected 50 of Thailand's 76 provinces. Close to 160,000 ha (400,000 acres) of land have been submerged. Around 5,000 households have been evacuated, in addition to hundreds of tourists. Nakhon Si Thammarat Province has been worst-affected, and a state of emergency was declared in several provinces.

Causes

The floods hit during a typically dry season, and were triggered when a record cold wave moved south from East Asia and produced persistent flooding in combination with near-normal sea surface temperatures, still warm enough to support strong convectional precipitation. However, Thailand's Deputy Chief Negotiator for the UNFCCC stated that the floods were likely caused by climate change, as over 2,200 mm (87 in) of rain had fallen in parts of Southern Thailand for the four months leading up to the beginning of April while the year of 2010 saw a total of 270 cm (110 in).

References

2011 Southern Thailand floods Wikipedia