Authorities in southern Thailand have brought in three refrigerated trucks to store bodies after the main facility handling flood victims reached full capacity. A staff member at Songkhla Hospital morgue, identified only as Charn, said the situation had become critical following a sharp increase in fatalities. “The morgue has exceeded its capacity, so we need more,” he told AFP after the death toll climbed to 55.
Video footage recorded by an AFP journalist showed white refrigerated lorries parked outside the hospital, underscoring the severity of the crisis.
Severe flooding has battered southern Thailand throughout the week, with Hat Yai near the Malaysian border experiencing extensive damage as large areas were submerged. Many residents were forced to seek safety on rooftops as floodwaters rose rapidly.
In a statement released late Thursday, the Thai government confirmed that deaths in Songkhla province had surged to 55—up dramatically from six reported just a day earlier. On Friday, authorities suspended the Hat Yai district chief over an alleged failure to adequately respond to the disaster.
Emergency efforts are ongoing as the region continues to grapple with widespread destruction and mounting casualties.
