Thai flood toll climbs to 29

Thai flood toll climbs to 29

BANGKOK (AFP): The death toll from flash floods and landslides
that hit northern Thailand last week jumped to 29 on Tuesday,
with a dozen others still unaccounted for, officials said.

Nearly 8,000 people have been evacuated from Phrae province
since flooding caused by monsoon rains hit in the early hours of
Friday, sweeping away hundreds of simple homes.

The Civil Defense Department statement said in a statement
that the toll had risen to 29, including one person in
neighboring Sukhothai province. Another 58 people were injured in
the disaster.

Phrae governor Anukul Kunawong has blamed the floods in Wang
Chin district on excessive logging that has destroyed forests in
the area.