Hat Yai, Thailand Declared Disaster Zone Amidst 300-Year Flood Crisis; Urgent Evacuations Underway in Songkhla Province

Hat Yai Faces Unprecedented Flooding: 300-Year Deluge Prompts Disaster Declaration

Hat Yai, a major urban center in Thailand's southern Songkhla province, has been officially designated a disaster zone following a historic deluge, marking the most severe flooding the region has experienced in three centuries. The provincial governor has mandated urgent evacuations, particularly prioritizing vulnerable populations such as children, the elderly, and the infirm, as continuous torrential rainfall overwhelms several districts.

Widespread Mobilization and Critical Conditions

Governor Ratthasart Chidchoo declared all 16 administrative districts of Songkhla a disaster zone on November 24, mobilizing military, civilian, and local government units for immediate relief efforts. The situation is dire, especially in Na Thawi district, which has been deemed “critical.” All ten of its sub-districts and 92 villages are now submerged, directly impacting more than 15,000 households, or over 50,000 residents.

Access to these marooned communities has become a significant challenge. Na Thawi district chief Warintorn Thongkhao confirmed that all primary and secondary roads are impassable, rendering land travel impossible. Relief operations are now entirely reliant on watercraft, exacerbating the logistical difficulties.

Urgent Plea for Resources

Despite the establishment of temporary evacuation centers across all sub-districts, the process of relocating affected residents remains slow due to the challenging terrain and the sheer scale of the floodwaters. District chief Thongkhao issued an urgent appeal for vital resources from the provincial press office. He highlighted a critical shortage of essential relief equipment, particularly flat-bottom boats, which are crucial for reaching highly submerged areas and facilitating large-scale evacuations. Additionally, there is an immediate need for prepared meals, safe drinking water, and other basic necessities for those still stranded.

Record-Breaking Rainfall and Forecast

According to the Royal Irrigation Department, an intense monsoon trough is responsible for this catastrophic event, unleashing a record 630mm of rain over a three-day period. This unprecedented rainfall has triggered severe floods across ten southern provinces of Thailand. Hat Yai itself recorded a staggering 335mm on November 21 alone, marking the heaviest single-day rainfall in 300 years. The accumulated rainfall from November 19 to 21 reached 630mm, significantly surpassing the 428mm recorded during the major Hat Yai flood of 2010. Within Hat Yai municipality, floodwaters have reached depths ranging from 0.50m to an alarming 2.5m.

Thailand’s Meteorological Department forecasts that persistent heavy rain will continue across Southern Thailand on November 24. Provinces including Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phatthalung, Songkhla, Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat, Krabi, Trang, and Satun are expected to experience widespread heavy rain, with isolated very heavy downpours. These conditions are attributed to a powerful low-pressure cell situated over the lower Andaman Sea and Malaysia, amplified by a strong north-easterly monsoon affecting the Gulf of Thailand, the South, and the Andaman Sea.