Torrential rain since late November has lashed 14 southern provinces, including the three insurgency-plagued provinces of Narathiwat, Pattani and Yala, flooding homes and cutting off power.

Local television footage showed villagers being evacuated from their homes by wooden boats. The government said some 1.6 million people have been hit by the floods and forecast heavy rain on Friday.

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said early Thursday he would visit the flood-hit region on Sunday to inspect the damage.

"I will go to the south and will stay there overnight on Sunday. I am considering which areas to visit," he told reporters.

The English-daily Nation newspaper said flood damage was estimated at one billion baht (24 million dollars) in Hat Yai, the largest city in the south.

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