The death toll from the flooding in Hat Yai has been put at 140, including 65 who died in hospitals and 75 who died in floodwater, according to Dr. Sakda Alapach, deputy permanent secretary of public health.
Of all the deceased, 104 of them have been identified and 23 bodies have been claimed by their relatives.
While not rejecting or accepting the claim made by former national police chief, Pol Gen Surachate Hakparn, a native of Songkhla, that the actual death toll could reach 1,000, Dr. Sakda simply said that the Public Health Ministry has made available seven refrigerated cargo containers, in which to store more remains, because it has no idea how many people have perished during the severe flooding last week.
As officials and volunteers are cleaning up the city, he said that it is possible that some more remains may be found, but probably not as many as claimed.
He insisted that the ministry has not concealed the actual death toll, saying that anyone who has any doubt can see with their own eyes at the cargo containers. He also said that the ministry wants to tell people the truth.
