Speaking at Government House yesterday (Nov 27), 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, reports the Bangkok Post.
Mr Siripong stated that the government did not try to hide the number of fatalities, but it has to wait for confirmed information.
“The government has never denied that there may be unreported or pending cases, which are expected to exist. However, only figures verified by the Ministry of Public Health will be presented to avoid misunderstandings,” he said.
“The government emphasises that all information provided will be accurate and transparent, without inflating or downplaying the numbers, as this serves no purpose. The objective is to communicate fully and directly with the public,” he said after the government was criticised for reporting earlier in the day that total fatalities in nine flooded provinces were 25.
He extended condolences to all affected families and noted that Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has already set a framework for financial relief for flood victims in the South.
The government has also approved a funeral allowance of B2 million per deceased person, he said.
As for the current flood situation in the province, water levels were expected to recede below the riverbank across all locations by yesterday evening.
Meanwhile, the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation director-general Teerapat Kachamat said flooding remains severe across 105 districts in nine southern provinces, affecting more than 1.07 million households - over 2.9 million people. However, while water levels in Songkhla, Phatthalung, and Surat Thani have begun to drop in several areas, waters continue to rise elsewhere.
Emergency teams have been deployed to provide evacuation assistance, deliver food and drinking water, and supply mobile kitchens, water production units and rescue boats.