Thai flood death toll rises to 53

The death toll from floods in southern Thailand has risen to 53, the government said yesterday.
Seven provinces are still heavily flooded after unseasonal downpours began almost two weeks ago, affecting the livelihoods of more than two million residents and forcing more than 40,000 to evacuate.
In addition to the 53 deaths, one person is missing in Nakhon Si Thammarat, one of the hardest hit provinces, the public health ministry announced.
Bad weather last week stranded thousands on islands in the Gulf of Thailand and Andaman Sea.