Historic Flooding in Southern Thailand Leaves 13 Dead, Nearly 2 Million Displaced as Hat Yai Submerged

Severe flooding triggered by days of relentless monsoon rains has devastated southern Thailand, leaving at least 13 people dead and forcing the evacuation of residents and tourists across multiple provinces. Local media, citing official sources, reported on Tuesday that nearly 2 million people have been affected by the widespread disaster.

According to the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, floodwaters have engulfed ten southern provinces, with water levels reaching up to two meters in several areas. Hat Yai city in Songkhla province—one of the region’s major commercial and rubber-trading hubs—has been the hardest hit.

In Hat Yai, floodwaters surged between 1.5 and 3 meters, prompting a full-scale evacuation. The city recorded a staggering 335 mm of rainfall last Friday, the highest in 300 years of systematic weather observation. The extreme deluge left around 7,000 foreign tourists, mostly from Malaysia and Singapore, stranded in the city.

The floods have disrupted essential services, including electricity and mobile networks in parts of the region. The Chana Power Plant in Songkhla temporarily suspended operations as water levels continued to rise, though authorities confirmed that other power stations remain operational.

With rescue efforts ongoing and more rain expected, officials are urging caution as Thailand faces one of its most severe flooding events in recent history.