Life of Guangzhou - Floods Claim At Least 73 Lives in Thailand

The official flood death toll across Thailand stood at 73 as of Tuesday, according the country's Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department, as more deaths and inundation are being reported in provinces, Thai News Agency said.

In lower northern province Phitsanulok, the death toll from flooding reached nine on Tuesday when a man was found dead in the water early morning.

A three-year-old boy who drowned in Prachin Buri on Tuesday brought the death toll from flood in the central province to 13, as floodwaters in its three districts, including the provincial seat, have risen.

In central province Sing Buri, flood situations in six districts are still in crisis. Local residents in the provincial town have moved into temporary shelters while farmlands have been inundated.

In the northeastern province of Nakhon Ratchasima, about 100,000 persons in 23 districts have been affected by the floods. Initial damages were estimated at more than 200 million baht (5.4 million U.S. dollars).

However, rainfall from tropical storm Xangsane earlier this month helped increase the water level in Korat's reservoirs. Despite the abundance of water now, a severe drought is expected next year.