Chatchai Promlert, the department’s director-general, said that since heavy rain hit the region in December, 1.8 million people in 12 provinces had been affected by severe flooding.

As well as the 91 who lost their lives, four people were still missing.

The floods also damaged roads in 4,314 areas, 348 bridges, 270 drainage pipes, 123 weirs, and two reservoirs. About 70 government places and 2,336 schools were also affected.

“Flooding has already receded in seven provinces, but some areas of Nakhon Si Thammarat, Surat Thani, Songkhla, Pattalung, and Pattani are still under water,” Chatchai said.

He said the Meteorological Department had forecast less rain in the South due to a weaker North Eastern monsoon, “so we have cooperated with the five provinces that are still flooded to drain the water out to the sea during this period to resolve the situation”.