TheThai Ministry of Interior said the prolonged rain and follow-up flood haveaffected over 700,000 people and paralysed the road and railway traffic systemsince it started a week ago.
Nakhon SiThammarat international airport had to halt operation due to a record rainfallof 162.1mm.
Thetrans-Asia expressway, which runs through this region, was also hit by floodwhile tens of thousands hectares of cultivation land were damaged.
Thedownpour also destroyed over 1,500 schools.
It isexpected to last at least two more days, the Meteorological Department said,warning that severe floods could occur in eight of the hardest-hit provinces.
Army basesacross the south were mobilised on January 7 to assist flood victims anddeliver food to trapped ones.
The unusualflood season normally lasts from November to January in Thailand.-VNA