Flash flood devastates Thai refugee camp
At least 16 people, including three children, have been killed by a flash flood that swept through a refugee camp in northern Thailand.
Another 12 people are missing, presumed dead, district chief Puchong Bhodisuksai said.
About 15,000 refugees, mostly ethnic Karen, have lived in the Ban Tha Sala camp since fleeing clashes between Karen rebels and Burmese army troops.
The camp is about 12 miles from the Burmese border and 400 miles north of Bangkok. About 120,000 Burmese refugees live in such camps in northern Thailand.
Puchong said more than 100 shanty houses were destroyed by the floods, which reached a height of about 13ft.
“Some of the victims were found eight miles away from the camp – they were swept that far by the strong current,” he added.
