- By Shivangi Sharma
- Wed, 26 Nov 2025 06:05 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Thailand’s southern province of Songkhla has been declared a disaster zone after unprecedented rainfall triggered catastrophic flooding, leaving at least 33 people dead and thousands more stranded. Authorities say this is the heaviest rainfall the region has seen in 300 years, with water levels rising up to 2 metres in several districts.
The worst-hit area, Hat Yai, recorded 335 mm of rain in a single day, a level unseen in three centuries. Homes, markets and vehicles vanished under floodwaters, while drone footage showed entire neighborhoods resembling vast lakes.
Residents trapped on rooftops waved for help as rescue boats struggled to navigate through strong currents. Viral videos showed people clinging to lamp posts to escape fast-rising waters while others waded through chest-deep floods.
It’s a very serious situation, as floodwaters in Hat Yai, Songkhla Province, Thailand have surged to 1.5–3 meters, forcing authorities to evacuate both residents and tourists. pic.twitter.com/bYNpAeEpqB
— Weather Monitor (@WeatherMonitors) November 25, 2025
Regional Devastation Sweeps Across Southeast Asia
The disaster has not been limited to Thailand. Across Southeast Asia, extreme rainfall has unleashed widespread destruction:
Vietnam: 98 deaths in a week
Malaysia: Over 19,000 displaced
Indonesia: At least 19 killed, with more buried under landslides in North Sumatra
In Thailand alone, over 2 million people have been affected, though only 13,000 have reached shelters. With 70 per cent of the country’s southern region forecast to be hit by more heavy rain, the risk of flash floods, landslides and sudden river surges remains dangerously high.
Massive Rescue Operations Underway
The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation reported that nine provinces near the Malaysian border are experiencing severe flooding. Around 7,000 foreign tourists, mostly from Malaysia and Singapore, have been stranded in Hat Yai.
Helicopters have been deployed to rescue people from remote locations, while government agencies continue distributing food, medicine and emergency supplies. Local officials said the flooding had impacted over 127,000 households, with some areas logging nearly 400 mm of rain in days. Videos also showed cars floating away, homes submerged to their rooftops, and residents forming human chains to navigate deep waters.