BANGKOK: Southern Thailand is facing an escalating flood disaster, with Songkhla province declaring Hatyai and surrounding districts as red zones and ordering urgent evacuations as heavy rainfall continues under a strong monsoon trough.
Critical information from emergency operations and satellite imagery reveals widespread impacts across at least six southern provinces.
At the Songkhla Provincial Hall on November 23, 2025, Governor Rattasart Chidchoo chaired a meeting of the Provincial Disaster Command Centre for Floods, Storms and Landslides to assess the rapidly worsening conditions and implement immediate response measures.
Flooding across Songkhla between November 19–23 has affected 16 districts, 100 subdistricts, 637 villages and over 465,000 people, with 235 people already evacuated.
The most severely affected (“very severe”) are Hatyai, Rattaphum and Na Mom.
Hatyai has the highest number of affected residents — over 243,000 people — with widespread flooding in urban zones and Khlong U-Taphao nearing overflow level.
The special surveillance districts are Thepha, Na Thawi, Saba Yoi, Ranot, Krasae Sin and Sathing Phra peninsula.
Following instructions from Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, who inspected flood-hit areas on November 22, the governor ordered agencies to accelerate all operations:
1. Forward command centre in Hat Yai
A Front Incident Command Centre has been established in Hat Yai, led by a deputy governor, to oversee evacuations and coordinate rescue teams.
2. Deployment of vehicles and boats
Authorities have mobilised military high-clearance trucks, Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) vehicles and flat-bottom boats. Additional boats have been requested from all government agencies. Priority rescue targets include children, the elderly, the sick and all vulnerable groups.
3. Evacuation from hotels
Military units have been assigned to evacuate people stranded in hotels after power cuts were implemented in several inundated areas.
4. Large-scale water drainage
More than 80 water pumps have been installed at 68 locations to accelerate drainage from critical communities.
5. Daily relief distribution
The Songkhla Red Cross and Provincial Administrative Organisation are preparing 20,000 meal boxes per day for distribution across all affected districts.
The governor ordered all agencies to maintain close coordination, answer all emergency calls immediately, and prepare to initiate post-flood compensation and recovery as soon as waters recede. – The Nation/ANN