Confirmed Songkhla flood death toll rises sharply to 55

The death toll from the catastrophic floods in Songkhla has risen to 55, government spokesman Siripong Angkasakulkiat said yesterday amid criticism over earlier reports in the day that cited only 25 fatalities in nine provinces.

- POST REPORTERS

Speaking at Government House yesterday, Mr Siripong, also spokesman for the Emergency Flood Response Operations Centre, said the Ministry of Public Health verified the figures using data from Songklanagarind Hospital. From a total of 85 recorded fatalities in the province, 55 were directly caused by flooding, while 30 deaths were attributed to other causes occurring during the crisis.

Mr Siripong stated that the government did not try to hide the number of fatalities, but it has to wait for confirmed information.