BANGKOK, THAILAND – Torrential monsoon rains and rough seas disrupted large parts of southern Thailand as authorities raised alerts and warned of life-threatening conditions.
Severe weather threat through Sunday
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) said the situation in the south remained extremely dangerous and was expected to persist until Sunday, 23 November. A strong northeast monsoon and a weather disturbance over the lower Gulf of Thailand were blamed for the severe conditions.
Seven high‑risk provinces – Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phatthalung, Songkhla, Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat – faced the risk of serious flooding and landslides.
Airport urges passengers to expect long delays
Nakhon Si Thammarat airport continued to operate but struggled with the impact of the storms. Authorities appealed to all passengers to allow for much longer travel times.
“Please plan at least two extra hours of travel time!”
said airport authorities. They warned that the risk of delays and cancellations was extremely high.
If flights were cancelled, passengers were told they would need to contact their airline directly, as the situation remained unpredictable.
Maximum alert level in Phatthalung
The disaster prevention and mitigation agency DDPM declared the highest emergency level for Phatthalung, where five districts were particularly affected. Officials warned residents of possible flash floods and landslides and urged them to secure their belongings.
“Protect valuable items and important documents!”
said the authorities, adding that people in especially vulnerable areas needed to be brought to safety.
Schools move online amid safety fears
For safety reasons, 17 schools in Phatthalung switched entirely to online classes. The closures included well‑known institutions such as Satri Phatthalung School and Phatthalung Christian School.
The list of affected facilities ranged from kindergartens to secondary schools, causing additional disruption for many families, while officials stressed that children’s safety took priority.
Three‑metre waves shut down small boats
In the Gulf of Thailand, a complete travel ban was in force for small boats as waves reached two to three metres in height. Near thunderstorms, the waves could exceed three metres, creating a life‑threatening situation for all forms of marine traffic.
Authorities strongly advised people not to leave the mainland and urged residents to follow official weather warnings continuously.