Thai flood death toll hits 48, body search goes on

BANGKOK, May 25 (Reuters) The death toll in northern Thailand's worst floods in 60 years, caused by a rare climatic factor, rose to 48 today with dozens still missing as rescuers slogged through mud and debris for bodies.

Scientists and relief officials attributed the disaster to a rare collision of low-pressure areas from the Pacific and Indian Oceans causing unusually heavy rain to fall on deforested hills, particularly in Uttaradit province bordering Laos.

The hills, stripped by illegal loggers of the tree cover which could have held them together or turned into orchards, could not absorb the water and sections slid away as mudslides.

The slides and flash floods destroyed houses, cut roads and damaged dams as well as inundating towns and forcing thousands to flee their homes. Large areas were littered with trees, making access to more remote communities difficult.

Rescuers, joined by 1,000 troops, dogs and helicopters, expected to find more bodies as the waters receded now that the downpours have eased. This year's monsoon rains have come earlier and more heavily than usual.

''We fear we will find more dead under the mud when the water levels fall,'' said Suksunt Vanaputi, vice governor of Uttaradit where most of the deaths occurred.

The situation was improving in urban centres as power was restored, but the military was still having difficulty getting heavy machinery into the hills to repair roads and search for bodies, Suksunt told Reuters.

But it could get worse again, with the likelihood of more rain in most parts of Thailand raising the risk of new flash floods and mudslides, the Meteorological Department said in its daily forecast.

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