Severe flooding is impacting Thailand’s Songkhla province, with the sadao district and its nine subdistricts currently facing widespread inundation as of November 24, 2024. The crisis is compounding existing challenges in the nearby city of Hat Yai, where floodwaters have already disrupted daily life for residents [[2]]. Rescue operations are underway, hampered by limited resources, as authorities work to assist approximately 1,000 affected households and confront unprecedented water levels, even at historically safe locations like the Wat Khao Rup Chang temple [[1]].
Severe flooding has engulfed the Sadao district of Thailand’s Songkhla province, impacting all nine subdistricts and leaving many residents stranded, officials reported November 24, 2024. The crisis is compounding the already dire situation in nearby Hat Yai, where widespread flooding continues to disrupt daily life.
Approximately 1,000 households in Sadao are affected by the rising waters, with some areas experiencing unprecedented levels of inundation. Even Wat Khao Rup Chang temple in Padang Besar subdistrict, a location historically immune to flooding, has been submerged.
Rescue efforts are hampered by a shortage of boats needed to reach those trapped in isolated villages. Soldiers from Company 5021, Border Patrol Police 437, and local administrative officials are working to provide assistance where possible, navigating challenging conditions to reach affected residents.
In some instances, rescuers are using ropes to guide residents through swift currents to safety. The situation is particularly concerning as a large volume of water from Sadao is expected to flow into Hat Yai, potentially exacerbating the existing floodwaters and raising water levels further in the city.
The influx of water from Sadao underscores the scale of the flooding crisis in Songkhla province and the challenges facing rescue and relief operations. Authorities are bracing for potentially worsening conditions as the floodwaters continue to rise.
