Hat Yai Floods And Emergency Disrupt Travel

Published on Nov 25, 2025, 8:20 am CST

10 min read

Key points

State of emergency in Songkhla from November 25, 2025 to February 25, 2026 as floods hit Hat Yai and nearby districts
More than 10 southern provinces face flooding, with at least 13 deaths, over 1,200 evacuations in Songkhla, and water up to 2.5 meters in places
Around 7,000 foreign tourists and about 4,000 Malaysians are affected in Hat Yai and Songkhla, many stuck in hotels with limited supplies and patchy power
Rail lines, cross border trains, and long distance buses between Malaysia and southern Thailand are suspended or curtailed, and key highways around Hat Yai are under water
Hat Yai International Airport (HDY) remains open but access roads are flooded, with Thai airlines offering rebooking, refunds, and fee waivers for affected flights
Nonessential trips to Hat Yai and southern Songkhla should be postponed for at least the coming week, with travelers rerouting via Bangkok or other gateways where possible

Impact

Where Impacts Are Most Likely: Flooding is most severe in Hat Yai and low lying parts of Songkhla, plus other southern provinces like Yala, Narathiwat, Pattani, Satun, and Nakhon Si Thammarat
Best Times To Travel: Travel only once local authorities confirm receding water, and favor daytime arrivals into Bangkok or other unaffected hubs instead of night time overland trips into Hat Yai
Onward Travel And Changes: Expect rail, bus, and road connections between Malaysia and southern Thailand to remain unreliable, and leave generous buffers or split tickets through Bangkok or Phuket instead
What Travelers Should Do Now: Postpone nonessential travel to Hat Yai and southern Songkhla for at least several days, contact airlines and rail or bus operators for waivers, and work with hotels or insurers on extensions or rebooking
Health And Safety Factors: Treat floodwater as contaminated, avoid wading unless directed by rescuers, keep essential medication and documents in waterproof bags, and prepare for intermittent power, mobile coverage, and water supply

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Hat Yai floods travel disruption is now a central risk for trips into southern Thailand, as days of torrential rain have left much of Songkhla province under water and triggered a formal state of emergency. Thai authorities say at least 13 people have been killed across the south and more than 1,200 residents in Songkhla alone have been evacuated as water rose waist deep or higher in some neighborhoods. Travelers who planned quick breaks in Hat Yai, or overland links between Malaysia and Thailand, are instead finding roads cut, trains suspended, and buses parked while relief convoys and military units work to reach stranded communities.

The core change for travelers is that Hat Yai and much of Songkhla province are under a state of emergency from November 25, 2025 to February 25, 2026, after record rainfall flooded key districts, severed road and rail links, and left thousands of residents and visitors stranded, which in practice means that Hat Yai floods travel disruption will shape trips between Malaysia and southern Thailand for at least the coming week.

Thai officials report that more than 600 millimeters of rain fell in parts of southern Thailand over three days, with water levels reaching up to 2.5 meters in some communities. Hat Yai recorded roughly 335 millimeters in a single day, described by regional media as its heaviest daily rainfall in three centuries. The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation says flooding now affects 10 provinces, including Surat Thani, Krabi, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Trang, Phatthalung, Satun, Songkhla, Pattani, Yala, and Narathiwat, covering more than 4,000 villages. Nationally, at least 13 deaths have been confirmed as authorities warn of further heavy rain.

To manage the crisis, the Thai government has declared a state of emergency across southern Songkhla and appointed the Chief of Defence Forces to lead the response from November 25, 2025 through February 25, 2026. The military is coordinating evacuations in badly hit districts, using boats, high clearance trucks, and helicopters to reach areas where conventional vehicles cannot pass. At the same time, the Tourism Authority of Thailand has activated a support effort focused on foreign visitors, tasking local offices and overseas branches with helping stranded tourists secure shelter, transport options, or flight changes as the situation evolves.

For visitors, the most immediate disruption is on the road and rail network that feeds Hat Yai. The State Railway of Thailand has suspended at least 10 southern services on the main line since November 22 due to submerged tracks around the Hat Yai to Songkhla section and is issuing full refunds for affected passengers. Cross border links are also cut, with Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad in Malaysia halting trains between Padang Besar and Hat Yai after floodwater near Khlong Ngae station compromised safety and canceling upcoming MySawasdee services between Kuala Lumpur and Hat Yai with fare refunds offered via KTM Wallet.

Bus travel faces similar constraints. The Transport Company, Thailand s main state bus operator, has suspended several long distance routes from Bangkok to Hat Yai, Satun, Yala, Pattani, and Su Ngai Kolok until conditions improve, warning travelers not to attempt overnight overland journeys into flooded zones. Private Malaysian operators have followed suit, with firms such as KKKL Express announcing temporary suspension of services to Hat Yai due to severe flooding along key corridors.

Road closures compound the problem. Thailand s Department of Rural Roads has shut at least 14 major routes across the south as impassable, and local authorities report that critical stretches of Highway 4, also known as Phetkasem Road, and Highway 407 around Hat Yai are either fully submerged or restricted to emergency vehicles. This means even where intercity buses or trains could theoretically run, many travelers cannot safely reach stations, and emergency convoys take priority over commercial traffic.

Despite the flooding, Airports of Thailand says Hat Yai International Airport (HDY) remains operational, with runways and the terminal above water. However, access roads have been cut in several places, which has left more than 1,000 tourists stranded in the airport and in nearby hotels when they cannot reach flights or travel onward by road. Thai Airways, Thai Vietjet, and other carriers have rolled out support measures, including free date changes, rerouting where space permits, and refunds for canceled flights to or from Hat Yai on specified dates. Travelers must check each airline s advisory for exact eligibility windows and channels, since policies differ by fare type and purchase method.

The crisis is particularly sensitive for Malaysian travelers, who make up a large share of Hat Yai s weekend and holiday market. Malaysia s foreign ministry and consulate in Songkhla estimate that about 4,000 Malaysians are currently in Hat Yai and surrounding districts, many sheltering in hotels with limited access to food, water, or shops as floodwater surrounds commercial streets. The ministry has issued repeated advisories urging citizens to postpone trips to southern Thailand, especially Hat Yai, until flood conditions subside. Thai tourism officials, meanwhile, expect Malaysian visitors to cancel most trips to southern beach and city destinations for at least this week, dealing a short term blow to local operators who had been counting on cross border demand.

Other foreign visitors are caught in the same web of disrupted infrastructure. One regional report notes that around 7,000 foreign tourists, mostly from Malaysia and Singapore, are affected in Hat Yai, where some neighborhoods are without reliable electricity or mobile coverage and a major power plant in Chana temporarily halted operations. The United States Embassy in Thailand has issued a weather alert warning that further heavy rain is likely and that flood levels could rise again in already saturated districts, urging travelers to follow local instructions and avoid driving through standing water.

Hospitals are also adjusting. Thai media report that Hat Yai Hospital has floodwater on its grounds and is preparing to airlift critical patients to other facilities, shifting some services to telemedicine while emergency teams reinforce power and water systems. For travelers, this means that nonurgent care may be delayed and that anyone with chronic conditions should ensure they have extra medication and travel insurance that covers medical evacuation in case of further deterioration.

Background

Southern Thailand often experiences heavy monsoon rains from June to September, but a combination of saturated ground, localized downpours, and urban expansion has made flash floods more intense and harder to manage. Hat Yai in particular lies in a basin that funnels runoff from surrounding hills, so drainage systems can quickly become overwhelmed when canals and rivers exceed their capacity. Local authorities frequently rely on a mix of levees, pumps, and retention basins, but as recent days have shown, sustained rain can still push water into commercial streets, hotels, and low lying residential areas.

For rail and road, the vulnerabilities are similar. Key lines and highways run through flat terrain close to rivers and canals, which means even modest rises in water level can undermine ballast or roadbeds. Because cross border routes between Malaysia and Thailand converge on a limited number of corridors near Sadao and Padang Besar, closures on one or two segments can effectively cut the region off from normal coach or train traffic.

What Travelers With Upcoming Trips Should Do

If you have a nonessential leisure trip to Hat Yai or other parts of southern Songkhla in the next week, the safest course is to postpone until local authorities and your carrier confirm that floodwater has receded, key roads are open, and basic services are stable. Malaysian travelers should pay close attention to advisories from Wisma Putra and consular posts in Songkhla, since these notices will be the first to confirm when cross border bus and rail services resume at scale.

For those already holding air tickets to Hat Yai, check your airline s dedicated flood advisory before making changes. Many Thai carriers are offering free date changes, rerouting via other Thai cities, or refunds on flights into or out of Hat Yai for travel in the immediate flood period, but these waivers are often time limited and must be processed through the same sales channel you used for booking. When possible, consider rerouting itineraries through Bangkok, Phuket, or other airports that remain fully accessible by road and rail, then connecting onward once southern lines reopen.

Overland travelers coming from Malaysia or Singapore should not attempt to drive through flooded sections just to salvage a hotel night or shopping trip. With multiple highways and local roads under water, and emergency vehicles prioritized, the risk of becoming stranded or needing rescue outweighs any benefit of pressing ahead. Travelers who must be in southern Thailand for work or family reasons should route first to a major hub with confirmed access and then work with local contacts to assess conditions in real time.

Guidance For Stranded Travelers In Hat Yai

If you are already in Hat Yai, the most important step is to follow local instructions and conserve critical supplies. Hotels in affected districts are often coordinating directly with the Tourism Authority of Thailand and with foreign consulates to identify guests who may need evacuation or medical attention. Staying in the lobby or on higher floors when asked, rather than trying to leave on your own through floodwater, will usually speed up any organized convoy or boat transfer.

Power and mobile networks may be intermittent, so charge devices whenever electricity is available and keep at least one phone off or in low power mode for emergencies. Keep passports, cash, and medications in a small waterproof bag that you can carry if you need to move quickly. Avoid walking through water where you cannot see the ground, because currents can be stronger than they appear, manhole covers may be missing, and sewage or fuel can contaminate the flow.

For onward travel, assume that same day bus or rail connections will remain unreliable until authorities announce a clear reopening schedule. If you have a confirmed flight out of Hat Yai and can safely reach the airport in a vehicle arranged by your hotel, airline, or local authorities, build in extra buffer time in case convoys need to detour around flooded segments. Otherwise, work with your airline or travel advisor to shift your departure to a later date or to a different airport entirely.