Concerned over an ongoing severe floods which affected 10 southern provinces, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Saturday held a video conference meeting with governors or senior officials of those provinces regarding the tragedy as the death toll from floods and landslides increased to 39.

Mr Abhisit first attended a briefing by officials of the National Flood Relief Coordination Centre who worked round-the-clock on the flooding situation in the South. The Centre is situated on the fifth floor of the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department.

The Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department yesterday said that since March 23, the inundation had affected 998,867 people in Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phatthalung, Surat Thani, Trang, Chumphon, Songkhla, Krabi and Phang Nga. Picture: MCOT News

He later held a meeting with governors or senior officials of those flood-ravaged provinces through video conference and reportedly ordered them to provide urgent assistance to affected people, especially in remote areas, and simultaneously boosted their morale.

By Saturday afternoon, heavy rains were seen in some provinces. So far, 5,169  villages in 10 southern provinces have been devastated by floods and landslides.

via PM holds meeting with heads of 10 flood-hit southern provinces; Death toll rises to 39.

The Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department yesterday said that since March 23, the inundation had affected 998,867 people in Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phatthalung, Surat Thani, Trang, Chumphon, Songkhla, Krabi and Phang Nga.