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

Local television footage showed villagers being evacuated from their homes by wooden boats. The government said more than 671,000 people have been affected by the floods.

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said 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 Thursday flood damage was estimated at one billion baht (24 million dollars) in Hat Yai, the largest city in southern Thailand.

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