Death toll from Thailand monsoon floods hits 7

The death toll from flooding caused by intense monsoon rains in Thailand has climbed to seven, officials confirmed on Saturday, as emergency response operations press on.

According to the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, more than 260,000 residents across provinces along the Chao Phraya River have been affected by the floods this week.

The agency initially reported four fatalities on Tuesday but has since revised the figure to seven.

On Saturday, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul visited Ayutthaya, the worst-hit province, marking one of his first official trips since taking office. Joined by disaster response teams, he directed authorities to hand out survival kits, build sandbag barriers, and closely monitor areas vulnerable to landslides.

“We have a full team working to ease your hardships, and we plan to respond to your needs,” he told locals.

Although Thailand was spared from Severe Tropical Storm Bualoi, which battered the Philippines earlier in the week, the national weather service has warned of continued heavy rainfall in the coming days.

Seasonal rains between June and September are common in Thailand, but experts say climate change driven by human activity has intensified extreme weather, making it increasingly unpredictable.

Just last month in the north, Typhoon Kajiki triggered landslides and floods that killed five people and injured 15.

Thailand also experienced devastating flooding in 2011, when more than 500 people died and millions of homes across the country were damaged.