12 killed in Thai south floods

Heavy rains continued to hammer Thailand's flood-ravaged south yesterday, bringing the death toll up to 12 and leaving thousands of villages partially submerged, authorities said.

The flooding, which was roof-high in some areas, has affected more than 700,000 people since it started a week ago, the Interior Ministry said in a statement.

At least 12 people have died, according to the ministry and local officials, with the rain turning roads into rivers, inundating farmland and damaging more than 1,500 schools in the region.

The downpour is expected to persist for at least two more days, according to Thailand's Meteorological Department, which warned of flash floods.