Malaysia and Thailand Brace for More Rains After Deadly Floods Displace Thousands

Authorities in Thailand and Malaysia are preparing for more heavy rainfall after monsoon rains caused severe flooding that has killed more than 30 people and displaced tens of thousands.

On Tuesday, officials in both countries announced that they were setting up shelters, coordinating rescue teams, and planning evacuations in anticipation of further downpours in the coming days.

In southern Thailand, floods have claimed at least 25 lives and affected over 300,000 households in the past week, according to the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation.

As of Monday, 34,354 evacuees remained in 491 government shelters. The provinces of Pattani, Narathiwat, Songkhla, and Yala were among the hardest hit, and the Thai government has deployed rescue teams and allocated 50 million baht ($1.45 million) in relief funds per affected province.

Additionally, the cabinet approved a payment of 9,000 baht ($260) for each affected family.

Though water levels have receded in some areas, authorities are bracing for more heavy rains through Thursday, which could lead to flash floods. In preparation, rescue teams are on standby, and shelter, water pumps, evacuation vehicles, and boats have been readied.

In Malaysia, five days of intense rainfall last week caused widespread flooding in the northeastern states of Kelantan and Terengganu, resulting in six fatalities and significant damage to homes and infrastructure. The National Disaster Command Center reported that around 91,000 people are still displaced, and damages are estimated at $224 million.

While rain subsided over the weekend, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim warned that more heavy rains were expected on Tuesday, with another monsoon surge forecasted for Sunday. The floods have also impacted tourism, with officials advising Malaysian citizens to postpone travel plans to southern Thailand, a popular holiday destination.

Both countries are accustomed to annual monsoon rains, but experts suggest that climate change is contributing to more intense weather patterns, making destructive floods more frequent and severe.