Bangkok: A surge of destructive floods has swept through southern Thailand, killing at least 18 people and prompting large-scale rescue efforts.
Ten provinces have been inundated over the past week, with Hat Yai, a major business hub near the Malaysian border, recording its heaviest rainfall in 300 years, measuring 335mm in a single day.
Images from Hat Yai have shown homes and vehicles submerged, leaving many residents stranded on rooftops awaiting rescue. neighbouring countries have also been severely affected. Vietnam has reported 98 deaths within a week, while Malaysia has evacuated more than 19,000 people from inundated communities.
More than 2 million people in Thailand have been affected, although only 13,000 have been moved into designated shelters. The majority remain isolated by rising waters, with limited access to food, communication or assistance.
The Thai military has taken command of the emergency response. Officials have prepared to deploy an aircraft carrier and a fleet of 14 boats carrying relief supplies, including field kitchens capable of providing 3,000 meals per day.
Medical teams stationed on the carrier are prepared to convert the vessel into a ‘floating hospital’ if required. Boats, high-clearance vehicles and jet skis have also been mobilised for evacuations, according to the governor of Songkhla province, which includes Hat Yai.
The cabinet has declared Songkhla a disaster zone, releasing additional funds for relief and recovery. Despite expanded efforts, many residents remain stranded as waters continue to rise, creating increasingly dangerous conditions.
Residents have posted urgent calls for assistance on Governor Songkhla Matchima’s public page, describing situations involving children, elderly individuals, people with disabilities and those unable to escape rising waters. Some households have reported going days without food or water. One message described a family that had waited three days for help, noting that remaining phone battery life was diminishing.
Video footage circulating online has shown three boys clinging to overhead power lines as floodwaters rose rapidly beneath them, attempting to reach safety.
In Malaysia, more than 19,000 people have been relocated to shelters, with 126 evacuation centres established in northern border regions. Emergency teams in Kelantan and Perlis have moved through knee-deep water to retrieve residents from areas where rising waters have cut off all road access.
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