Death toll from floods in Thailand reaches 30

BANGKOK, Oct. 4 (UPI) -- Massive flooding in Thailand has claimed the lives of 30 people as of Friday, and has affected as many as 3 million people, officials said.

The rain-triggered floods began Sept. 17 and have inundated 12,667 villages in 33 of Thailand's 76 provinces, the Bangkok Post reported.

Thailand's Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department said the death toll from the floods rose to 30 Friday morning. Eleven deaths were reported in Surin, nine in Si Sa Ket, five in Prachin Buri, two each in Nakhon Nayok and Yasothon, and one in Sa Kaeo.

The floods have damaged 14,703 houses, 857,343 acres of farmland, 4,947 roads, 201 bridges, 218 schools, 325 temples and 56 state office buildings, the department said.