PATTANI, Dec 2 — Floods that hit the Pattani province have crippled 80 per cent of its major trading centre and caused traders to suffer big losses.

Pattani Mayor Piktak Kokiart said flood water started to enter the city’s main trading centre in the morning, something unprecedented in the province.

"Water as high as 50cm entered Pattani’s main trading centre since this morning causing 80 per cent of businesses to be closed,” he told reporters here yesterday.

The floods hit 500 villages, affecting 32,400 people from 18,116 families and caused 58 schools to be closed. Four people have reportedly died.

A similar situation in southern Thailand has claimed 12 deaths.

Meanwhile, Pattani Governor Wiranan Penjang said the six worst-hit areas in the region were Nongchik, Mae-lan, Yarang, Khokpo, Yaring and Muang. — Bernama