Songkhla governor orders full evacuation of Hat Yai as worst flood in 25 years unfolds

Songkhla’s flood crisis reached a critical turning point on 24 November 2025, as the governor ordered the mass evacuation of all Hat Yai district residents, following days of relentless rainfall and surging runoff from Sadao district.

This marks the worst flooding the province has seen in 25 years, with fears mounting that the situation could soon surpass the devastation of the 2000 mega-floods.

The entire province of Songkhla — comprising 16 districts, 115 subdistricts and 821 villages — has now been officially declared a disaster zone.

Water levels and overwhelmed systems

Floodwaters in Hat Yai are now projected to rise between 1.25 and 1.45 metres by 6:00 am on Tuesday. Despite continuous pumping into the sea through Hat Yai’s main R.1 drainage canal, the volume of water from the U-Tapao River basin and ongoing rainfall has overwhelmed drainage capacity.

Many parts of Hat Yai’s business district are submerged. Key roads, including those leading to the Malaysia–Thailand border, remain impassable, and sections of Pak Thong–Khuan Chong Road have been cut off entirely by runoff from Na Mom district.

Evacuations and relief efforts

Evacuation centres have been rapidly opened to accommodate thousands of residents, including:

• Prince of Songkla University International Convention Centre

• Songkhla Rajabhat University auditorium

• Royal Thai Navy Second Naval Area Command

Military units, volunteer teams, and emergency responders are using high-clearance vehicles and flat-bottom boats to assist evacuations. Priority is being given to children, elderly individuals, the sick, and those trapped by rising floodwaters.

Authorities have also mobilised over 80 water pumps at 68 locations to speed up drainage, while 20,000 meal boxes are being prepared daily by local agencies and the Red Cross.

Mobile phone operators AIS, True and NT sent out Cell Broadcast alerts instructing all residents in Hat Yai to evacuate immediately. Emergency support can be requested via DDPM's 24-hour hotline or LINE platform.

Cross-border impacts and Malaysian response

The floods have severely disrupted cross-border connectivity, leaving an estimated 4,000 Malaysians stranded in Hat Yai and nearby areas.

Six major roads connecting Hat Yai to the Malaysia–Thailand border have been submerged under more than one metre of water, halting vehicle movements and stranding travellers, including many trucks and rescue convoys.

The Sungai Petani volunteer fire and rescue team (PBS) reported that their teams had to stop operations in Danok, near the border, due to worsening conditions. Other rescue teams from Johor, Perak, Selangor, and Kedah are currently awaiting updates from Thai authorities before proceeding.

Travel by boat from Sadao to Hat Yai — a journey that usually takes three to four hours — has been ruled out due to unsafe water conditions.

In response, Malaysia's Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi stated that heavy vehicles may be deployed to support evacuation and logistics once access routes are reopened.

Meanwhile, the Malaysian Consulate-General in Songkhla has activated its emergency operations team to assist its nationals. Most Malaysians are reported safe, sheltering in multi-storey hotels, though some experienced power outages and limited food access over the weekend.

Scale of impact and ongoing threats

As of the latest provincial data:

• 243,568 households have been affected, impacting over 635,000 individuals

• 1,224 people have been evacuated to shelters

• One fatality has been confirmed

• Strong winds in Ranot district have damaged more than 700 homes

Districts under intense surveillance now include Hat Yai, Rattaphum, Na Mom, Sadao, Chana, Thepha, Na Thawi, Saba Yoi, and the Sathing Phra peninsula.

Authorities continue to maintain 24-hour emergency response communication, and security forces have been deployed to prevent theft and ensure safety in flood-hit zones.

Weather outlook and warnings

The Southern Meteorological Centre has warned of continued heavy rainfall until Tuesday, with flash floods, landslides and water runoff risks persisting, particularly in low-lying and hillside areas.

Although rainfall is forecast to ease later in the week, the volume of existing water from both direct rainfall and upstream runoff remains a serious concern. Response teams are preparing for worsening scenarios in areas where water levels continue to rise.

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has confirmed that post-flood recovery and rehabilitation planning is underway and will be initiated as soon as waters recede.