The body of the last tourist missing after flash floods struck several waterfalls in the far South was found yesterday, bringing the death toll to 38.

The body of Yuwada Choosrirak was located at about 4pm yesterday, after three days of extensive searching in a 5km radius from Prai Sawan waterfall.

A flash flood from the Banthat hills swept away dozens of young holiday-makers at Sai Rung and Prai Sawan waterfalls in Yan Ta Khao district and at Lum Plok waterfall in Palian district on Saturday.

Yuwada's body was found covered in mud in an area behind Ban Khok School, about two kilometres from Prai Sawan waterfall.

Her husband Pradej Choosrirak - who had clung to the slim hope that she was still alive -was about to bring a spirit medium to help.

Pradej identified her body, before it was taken to the Yan Ta Khao Hospital.

Meanwhile, families of the flood victims urged former Democrat leader and Trang MP Chuan Leekpai, to ask the government to install better disaster warning systems at the falls.

Thana Tulyasuk, a grieving father who lost four children in the tragedy, vowed never to visit the waterfalls again. Thana had five children on Saturday morning - 18-year-old twin boys, a 15-year-old girl, and two young boys aged nine and six. Today, he has one, with a sole twin boy having survived.

A funeral was held for Thana's children at Wat Ratrangsan in Wang Wiset district, along with three members of the Nilphan family also were in their teens, plus a six-year-old girl, Patcharaporn Musika, and seven-year-old Wongsathorn Thammasuwan.

The youths were all close relatives who travelled to the Sai Rung falls on Saturday in a group of 17. Their parents did not accompany them that day, as they entrusted elder children to take care of their younger cousins, Thana said.

Thana said he wanted Chuan to contact the government to ensure a better disaster warning system was put in place at the falls to prevent such a tragedy re-occurring.

He noted that most visitors were not locals and might not recognise the signs ahead of a disaster, so local officials were needed to provide a warning to tourists.

The Nation

TRANG