BANGKOK (AP) — The death toll from severe flooding in southern Thailand climbed to more than 80 people as floodwaters began to subside Thursday, officials said.
About 1 million households and more than 3 million people have been impacted by floods triggered by torrential rains in 12 southern provinces, the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation said Thursday.
The flooding that began during the weekend submerged vast areas and caused deaths in Nakhon Si Thammarat, Patthalung, Songkhla, Trang, Satun, Pattani and Yala provinces. Floodwaters had receded in many of the provinces Thursday morning, but water levels remained high in some areas including Pattani and Nakhon Si Thammarat.
Government spokesperson Siripong Angkasakulkiat said in a news conference in Bangkok that flood-related deaths in Songkhla province surged from six to 55 on Thursday, sending the overall death toll across the seven provinces to at least 82 people.
Officials expected water levels to recede below river banks in every affected area by the evening, he said.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul earlier this week declared a state of emergency in Songkhla, which includes southern Thailand’s biggest city, Hat Yai, citing the “unprecedented severity” of the flooding.
Video footage showed water levels in Hat Yai had dropped Thursday, revealing widespread damage throughout the city.
The flooding caused severe disruption, leaving thousands of people trapped. Electricity and water supplies were cut and communication lines were disrupted in many areas.
Eight field hospitals were established to support Hat Yai Hospital, which remained unable to operate at full capacity, according to the Public Health Ministry. The ministry said 20 critical patients were airlifted Thursday and additional food supplies were delivered to medical staff and remaining patients.
Jintamas Saksornchai reported from Bangkok.
Thai residents rest at an evacuation center following floods in Songkhla province, southern Thailand, Thursday, Nov. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Arnun Chonmahatrakool)
A woman rides a motorcycle past damaged vehicles following floods in Songkhla province, southern Thailand, Thursday, Nov. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Sarot Meksophawannakul)
People wade through floodwaters in Songkhla province, southern Thailand, Thursday, Nov. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Sarot Meksophawannakul)
LJUBLJANA, Slovenia (AP) — Slovenia’s parliament on Friday appointed right-wing populist politician Janez Jansa as the new prime minister, in a shift for the small European Union country that was previously run by a liberal government.
Lawmakers backed Jansa in a 51-36 vote in the 90-member assembly. The new prime minister will need to come back to Parliament within the next 15 days for another vote to confirm his future Cabinet.
Jansa's appointment concludes a postelection stalemate in Slovenia after a parliamentary ballot two months ago ended practically in a tie. Former liberal Prime Minister Robert Golob's Freedom Movement won by a thin margin but he was unable to muster a parliamentary majority.
Jansa and his populist Slovenian Democratic Party signed a coalition agreement this week with several right-wing groups. The new government also has the backing of a nonestablishment Truth party that first emerged as an anti-vaccination movement during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The new term in office will be the fourth for the veteran Slovenian politician. Jansa, 67, is an admirer of U.S. President Donald Trump and was a close ally of former populist Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who was defeated in a landslide election last month.
Jansa in a speech listed the economy, fight against corruption and red tape, and decentralization as key goals of the future government. He has promised to lower taxes for the rich and support private education and healthcare.
Critical of the previous government's alleged “inefficiency," Jansa said the new government will turn Slovenia into “a country of opportunity, prosperity and justice, where each responsible citizen will feel safe and accepted."
Like Orban, Jansa was staunchly anti-immigrant during the huge migration wave to Europe in 2015. Also like Orban, Jansa has faced accusations of clamping down on democratic institutions and press freedoms during a previous term in 2020-2022. This led to protests at the time, and scrutiny from the European Union.
Golob in his speech described Jansa as “the greatest threat to Slovenia’s sovereignty and democracy."
Alleging that Jansa had threatened to arrest him, Golob said Jansa's "idea of democracy is that anyone who dares speak a word against you deserves only the worst.”
Jansa, a supporter of Israel, also has been a stern critic of the Golob government's 2024 recognition of a Palestinian state.
The vote on March 22 was marred by allegations of foreign influence and corruption. The around 2 million people in the Alpine nation are deeply divided between liberals and conservatives.
Janez Jansa, center, addresses the Slovenian Parliament during a session in Ljubljana, Slovenia, Friday, May 22, 2026, before appointing him as prime minister, ending a political deadlock after tight elections in March. (AP Photo/Igor Kupljenik)
Janez Jansa arrives for a session of the Slovenian Parliament in Ljubljana, Slovenia, Friday, May 22, 2026, before appointing him as prime minister, ending a political deadlock after tight elections in March. (AP Photo/Igor Kupljenik)
Janez Jansa addresses the Slovenian Parliament during a session in Ljubljana, Slovenia, Friday, May 22, 2026, before appointing him as prime minister, ending a political deadlock after tight elections in March. (AP Photo/Igor Kupljenik)
