Flooding Devastates Thailand, Burma

Posted October 23rd, 2011 at 6:50 am (UTC-5)
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Thailand battled to protect Bangkok Sunday from being swamped by flood water, while officials in neighboring Burma say floods there have killed at least 100 people.

Authorities in Thailand's capital shored up weak areas in the city's defenses and attempted to protect infrastructure.

The flooding is the worst to hit Thailand in decades, killing at least 356 people, displacing more than 110,000 and doing huge damage to the economy.

In neighboring Burma, an official said flooding killed at least 100 people last week. The state-run New Light of Myanmar newspaper mentioned the flooding Sunday, but kept the toll to three dead and 80 missing.

Heavy rains since July have inundated large parts of Southeast Asia, forcing millions from their homes. Another 336 people have died in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam.

A growing number of countries are pledging aid to the flood-ravaged region.