Seasonal floods continue to hit parts of Thailand

Thai authorities started clearing away mud and debris in Phuket after heavy rains brought flooding and power cuts to parts of the tourist-reliant island. Authorities said 376 households were affected and warned others to move their belongings to higher ground. In Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand's worst-hit province, waters started to recede after a month of flooding.

Major highways were blocked but officials said they expect all roads to be working by the end of the week. Flooding is a seasonal problem in Thailand but this year it has been exacerbated by the remnants of Tropical Storm Noru, which hit the country in September, and by the southwest monsoon in the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand.