Unusual cold snap takes the lives of 12 Thais overnight from exposure and respiratory illness, government says.
At least 12 people died overnight in Thailand as unusually cold weather gripped the semi-tropical Southeast Asian nation, reports cited officials saying Wednesday, 27 Jan 2016.
The deaths were caused either by exposure or respiratory illnesses, an official from the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation told the DPA news agency.
Two other people died earlier in Chainat province, also related to the plunge in temperature.
A cold front has swept through Thailand, sending temperatures below 5 degrees Celsius in some areas, more than 10C less than the average low for this time of year.
A high-pressure front has also caused flooding and high storm surges in the country’s south, with more than 3,000 households affected, according to the department.
Severe weather warnings were issued in several northeastern provinces and the military government provided local residents with aid, including jackets and food.
Much of the rest of Asia was also shivering.
In Hong Kong, the mercury dipped to its lowest in six decades. The rest of southern China also recorded unusually cold weather, with record-breaking low temperatures in many places.
In Japan, the unusual cold brought sleet as far south as Okinawa, a subtropical island known for its mild winters. Another southern island, Amami-Oshima, recorded its first snow in more than a century.