HAT YAI, THAILAND – Historic monsoon rains in Thailand’s deep south flooded wide areas and left tens of thousands in distress.
Record rainfall and prolonged monsoon
Meteorologists reported that an unusually strong monsoon trough triggered the heaviest rainfall in the region in more than 300 years. The situation had worsened steadily since around 19 November 2025, as continuous downpours saturated the ground and swelled rivers. Authorities warned that the intense rain was expected to continue at least until 25 November, raising the risk of further flash floods and river overflows in the affected provinces.
Hat Yai declared red zone, villages evacuated
The crisis centred on Songkhla province, where the commercial hub Hat Yai was declared a red zone and officially designated a disaster area under the highest alert level. Officials ordered urgent evacuations from 103 villages considered at immediate risk. By the night of 22 November, floodwaters had reached the city centre, submerging the key Petchkasem Road in front of the provincial police headquarters and trapping residents and tourists in knee‑deep water.
Wider regional impact and landslide threats
The flooding extended beyond Hat Yai into neighbouring Trang, where eight districts struggled with rivers bursting their banks. Many residents moved valuables to higher homes and buildings as a precaution. In Phatthalung, five districts were formally declared disaster zones amid warnings of prolonged flooding in low‑lying communities, while the provinces of Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat, Nakhon Si Thammarat and Satun also came under pressure.
Rare weather pattern overwhelms defences
The Royal Irrigation Department attributed the flooding to a combination of rare factors, including a persistent low‑pressure system that amplified the northeast monsoon. At the same time, large volumes of water flowed from Malaysia’s border regions into southern river systems, overloading drainage infrastructure designed for much weaker events. Hat Yai recorded its highest one‑day rainfall since measurements began on 21 November, causing several key waterways to overflow.
Government mobilises emergency response
The government in Bangkok deployed a mix of immediate relief and longer‑term measures, with Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul travelling to Hat Yai on 23 November to assess conditions. He distributed aid packages to flood‑affected families and inspected inundated neighbourhoods by boat.
“The south has our full support; we will not leave our people on their own.”
said Anutin Charnvirakul, Prime Minister.
He ordered accelerated drainage of floodwaters, mandatory evacuations in high‑risk zones and rapid financial assistance for affected households.
Local authorities and health sector under strain
At provincial level, Songkhla Governor Rattasart Chidchoo convened an emergency session of the Disaster Command Centre. Officials agreed to deploy more than 500 personnel for rescue operations and reinforce flood barriers using heavy machinery. The Ministry of Public Health activated emergency plans after floodwater entered Hat Yai Hospital, relocating patients and distributing water purification tablets to prevent diseases linked to contaminated supplies.
National coordination and real-time warnings
Across the country, agencies coordinated their efforts as the Royal Irrigation Department pumped water from canals and reservoirs at maximum capacity. The National Water Resources Office issued real‑time alerts for particularly vulnerable areas such as Nakhon Si Thammarat and Pattani, where experts still expected intense rainfall and localised but dangerous flooding. The situation in Thailand’s deep south remained critical, with further developments largely dependent on the course of the continuing monsoon.