Authorities say at least 25 people have died in severe flooding in southern Thailand since New Year's Day, leaving businesses paralyzed and thousands of tourists stranded.

The Interior Ministry said in a report Tuesday that the main highway connecting the south with the rest of the country was swamped.

It said 12 provinces have been hit by unseasonal rains and surface runoff since Jan. 1, affecting more than 1 million people.

One of the main airports and schools in the south remained shut.

The Meteorological Department forecasts more heavy rain in the region, which has popular beaches and resorts that attract millions of foreign tourists every year.

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