Severe flooding across the south of Thailand has killed at least 15 people and stranded thousands of tourists. Victims were either swept away by the rising waters or buried in mudslides caused by the unseasonable downpours. Trains to the region have been cancelled and several airports shut. Air travel, road and rail links have been flooded and electricity cut to many areas. Some 13,000 holiday makers are said to have been stranded on Koh Samui alone. The Thai navy has evacuated about 1,200 stranded tourists from Koh Samui and Koh Tao on its only aircraft carrier. A total of 80 districts in eight provinces have been declared disaster areas. Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said, roughly one million people have been affected due to week-long rain and flooding. Rising floodwaters have hampered relief efforts.