Thailand-
In Thailand’s deep south, what began as seasonal monsoon rains has escalated into a deluge of major proportions, submerging entire districts and testing the resilience of communities long accustomed to nature’s whims. As of November 24th, 2025, torrential downpours triggered by an unusually intense monsoon trough have unleashed the heaviest rainfall in over 300 years, transforming cities like Hat Yai into flood zones and displacing thousands across ten provinces.
The crisis, which intensified around November 19th, shows no immediate signs of abating, with meteorologists forecasting continued heavy showers through at least November 25th, raising fears of further flash floods and overflows from swollen rivers.
The epicenter of this watery onslaught lies in Songkhla province, where Hat Yai, the commercial hub of the region, has been declared a red-flag disaster zone, prompting urgent evacuations from 103 villages. Overnight on November 22nd, floodwaters surged through the city’s core, inundating Petchkasem Road outside the provincial police station and trapping residents and tourists alike in knee-deep currents.
Eyewitness accounts describe chaotic scenes: families wading through murky waters to salvage belongings, vehicles abandoned in rising tides, and more.
The deluge extends far beyond Hat Yai. In neighboring Trang province, eight districts now grapple with expanding floodwaters that have breached riverbanks, forcing residents to relocate valuables to higher ground. Phatthalung has seen five districts officially designated as disaster areas, with authorities warning of prolonged flooding in low-lying communities. Further south, provinces like Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat, Nakhon Si Thammarat, and Satun face similar threats, including sudden flash floods and potential landslides, as isolated heavy-to-very-heavy rains persist along the Gulf of Thailand’s shores.
The Royal Irrigation Department attributes this catastrophe to a rare group of factors: a persistent low-pressure system amplifying the northeast monsoon, coupled with upstream runoff from Malaysia’s border regions, overwhelming drainage systems designed for far milder events. Hat Yai alone recorded its highest single-day rainfall on November 21st, causing overflows from key waterways.
Thailand’s government has mobilized a multi-agency response, blending immediate relief with long-term mitigation. Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul touched down in Hat Yai on November 23rd, personally distributing survival kits to flood-weary families and surveying submerged neighborhoods from a boat. “The south has our full support, we will not let our people face this alone,” he declared, ordering accelerated water drainage, mandatory evacuations in high-risk zones, and expedited relief payments to affected households.
At the provincial level, Songkhla Governor Rattasart Chidchoo convened an emergency session of the Disaster Command Centre, greenlighting the deployment of over 500 personnel for rescue operations and reinforcing floodwalls with heavy machinery. The Public Health Ministry, led by its minister, activated contingency protocols after floodwaters infiltrated Hat Yai Hospital, relocating patients and distributing water purification tablets to combat disease risks in stagnant pools.
Nationwide coordination is in full swing: The Royal Irrigation Department is pumping water at maximum capacity from canals and reservoirs, while the National Water Resources Office issues real-time alerts for at-risk areas like Nakhon Si Thammarat and Pattani.
TPN media will continue to monitor this story.
