Water levels ‘high enough to submerge cars’: 6 elderly S'poreans & 2 teens stranded in Hat Yai after severe flooding

Persistent heavy rain has led to severe flooding across the Hat Yai district in Thailand’s southern border province of Songkhla, with weather conditions worsening on Nov. 22.

Among those affected by the floods are a group of six elderly Singaporeans, aged above 70, and two teenagers, who became stranded in their Hat Yai hotel and missed their scheduled return flight to Singapore.

13 out of 16 districts declared disaster zones

According to Bangkok Post, flood levels in Hat Yai reached critical thresholds on Nov. 21.

Power was cut in several neighbourhoods as a precaution, and internet connectivity and piped water services were disrupted as a result of the floods.

Thai prime minister Anutin Charnvirakul travelled to Hat Yai on Nov. 22 to inspect affected areas while transport minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn was also deployed to the South to oversee logistics, drainage operations and the installation of high-capacity pumps.

By Saturday afternoon, 13 of Songkhla’s 16 districts had been declared disaster zones.

The mayor of Hat Yai, Narongporn Na Phatthalung, said in a statement on Saturday that the city had recorded 595mm of rainfall over the past three days.

Intense and sustained rainfall in the U-Tapao River Basin had also overwhelmed smaller waterways, leading to rapid overflow into nearby communities.

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Singaporeans stranded in hotel

A woman, surnamed Guo (transliteration), whose father is one of the eight Singaporeans stranded in the Hat Yai hotel, told Shin Min Daily News that the group were on a trip in Hat Yai since Nov. 18 but their return was delayed by the rising waters.

"They were originally scheduled to return to Singapore on Nov. 22, but they missed their return flight and now they have to make other plans," Guo said.

What worried Guo the most was that with the electricity cut, their mobile phones and power banks were running low on battery, making communication difficult.

Guo contacted the Singapore Embassy in Bangkok and Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs for assistance, and has since managed to reach her father.

Her father told her that the hotel has been providing them with food and drinking water, albeit in limited, rationed amounts.

"He said the water level was initially knee-deep, but later rose high enough to submerge cars," she said, adding that the situation remains uncertain and she hopes the group will be able to return to Singapore soon.

Advisory from Singapore Embassy in Bangkok

In a Facebook post on Saturday, the Singapore Embassy in Bangkok said Hat Yai has been designated a red-flag disaster zone due to extensive flooding.

The embassy stated that floods have also led to power outages and restricted access to essential supplies, and it advised affected Singaporeans to stay indoors and follow instructions from local authorities.

Singaporeans who require assistance may contact:

Embassy of the Republic of Singapore in Bangkok


Tel: +66-2-348-6700 / +66-81-844-3580 (after hours)

Email: [email protected]

Ministry of Foreign Affairs Duty Office (24 hours), Singapore

Tel: +65 6379 8800 / 8855

Top photo via Shin Min Daily News