In Thailand, flooding across the southern part of the country has killed 11 people and stranded thousands on storm-swept holiday islands. Thousands were stranded on the tourist islands of Koh Samui and Koh Tao in the Gulf of Thailand as ferries were cancelled in the rough weather. Deputy prime minister Suthep Thaugsuban said the government had sent its only aircraft carrier to rescue around 1,000 people stuck on Koh Tao island. He said there are roughly one million people affected in many provinces. Residents were left without electricity in many areas as the waters rose, while road, rail and air links to the southern region remain closed. Bangkok Airways said there were 2,000 people, mostly tourists, stranded on Samui island either at the airport or in hotels after the airline cancelled flights for two days in a row. Bad weather and a power blackout at Samui airport grounded over 50 flights on Monday and Tuesday. The flooding, which began in southern Thailand a week ago, has killed seven people in Nakhon Si Thammarat province, three along the coast in Surat Thani and one in neighbouring Phatthalung. In all, 80 districts of eight provinces have been declared disaster areas by Thailand's disaster prevention and mitigation department.