Death toll from Thai floods reaches 229

BANGKOK, November 17, 2010 (AFP) - Devastating flooding across Thailand has left 229 people dead, officials said Wednesday, while nearly 2 million people remain affected in southern regions.

Heavy rains sweeping down the country caused over a month of flooding that inundated homes and farmland in 51 of Thailand's 76 provinces, according to government figures.

An estimated 8.6 million people saw their houses or livelihoods damaged and despite the fact that the waters have receded in many areas, 1.7 million are still affected as flooding persists in 20 provinces.

A total of 156 people have died in northern Thailand, including three foreigners, while 73 people have been killed in southern regions.

Thousands of soldiers were dispatched to the south at the beginning of November to help people stranded in their homes in the city of Hat Yai, home to more than 150,000 people and popular with tourists from Singapore and Malaysia.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2010-11-17

Very sad to see such a loss of life. And sadder to think that it is an annual event.