Although not the most severe in 300 years, the devastating flood event in Songkhla Province since 21 November has deeply affected the entire country. Several southern provinces have also been impacted, including Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phatthalung, Surat Thani, Narathiwat, Pattani, Trang, Satun, and Yala.
This event has affected approximately 800,000 households across more than 400,000 rai of land. Some reports indicate that in Hat Yai district alone, tens of thousands remain stranded awaiting aid, with no sign of receding floodwaters. The region faces continued heavy to very heavy rainfall through mid-December due to a stationary heavy rain phenomenon, signaling a clear warning that Thailand's weather patterns are no longer the same.
Economic damages are estimated at no less than 25 billion baht.
Associate Professor Dr. Thon Thamrongnawasawat, an environmental academic, emphasized that this is a genuine consequence of global warming that requires urgent attention. Thailand ranks among the top 10 countries most at risk of flooding from global warming, and major floods are expected to occur more frequently as global temperatures rise. The key lesson from the Hat Yai flooding is that Thailand's disaster response to climate change remains far from adequate.
Examining the economic impact of the southern floods, Kasikorn Research Center estimates damages of at least 25 billion baht if the situation persists for one month, representing about 0.13% of Thailand's nominal GDP. The primary effects are concentrated in Songkhla Province.
The main causes are disruptions to hotels, restaurants, retail, transportation, and manufacturing sectors, along with interruptions to basic public utilities such as electricity and water supply. The severity is compounded by the timing at the year's end, a season typically marked by heightened economic activity due to tourism.