Flood death toll rises to 35 in southern Thailand

Rescue teams struggling through mountains of mud unleashed by flooding have found 2,000 people trapped in a southern Thai village without food since a landslide cut them off from the outside world three days ago.

The southern disaster prevention centre today said at least 35 people had been killed in floods in the nine southernmost provinces of Thailand.

Sixty soldiers of the regional army unit reached the remote village of Tanoh Buteh in Yala province late yesterday and found the body of a man killed by a landslide that damaged 50 homes, said Samrerng Wongmuneeworn of the Yala disaster prevention centre.

National Police Chief Gen. Kovit Wattana has ordered police to provide more security in towns and around businesses after reports of looting of flood-affected shops.