A family had to break through the roof of their house in Hat Yai, southern Thailand, to escape the rapid rise of the waters.
A drone video showed a group of elderly people taking refuge on the roof of their house in Hat Yai in Songkhla province.
Location of Hat Yai on a map of Thailand.
The roof had been broken to allow them to escape the rising waters.
With their food and fruits nearby, it's unclear how many days they survived on the roof.
See also: The terrible floods in southern Thailand are weighing down tourism
Nightmare in Hat Yai
Family sheltered on a roof due to flooding in Hat Yai. Photo: Thai PBS World
Several people from the same family, including elderly women, found themselves trapped on the top floor of their home, and as the water continued to rise, they had to make an opening in the roof to escape drowning.
They then waved fabric and cried for help until rescuers on nearby boats noticed them and came to their aid.
The caption accompanying the drone footage indicates that during the rescue operation, an officer accidentally stepped on the roof and fell into the water.
He then swam and climbed back onto the roof before continuing the rescue.
The five residents were all brought to safety.
The rescue operation was filmed by a Thai PBS media team, which was flying over the area using a drone to assess the extent of the flooding at the intersection of Klong Hoi Khong.
Analysis of the flood situation in Hat Yai
Aerial view of flooding in southern Thailand in November 2025. Photo: Thai PBS World.
On Tuesday, November 25, 2025, the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA) released an analysis of the flooding situation in Hat Yai district.
It used the HAND model (Height Above Nearest Drainage), combined with data from the Sentinel-1A satellite on November 24 to estimate the depth of floodwaters.
The analysis shows significant and severe impacts, particularly on infrastructure and the livelihoods of residents, including:
- People affected: approximately 150,230
- Households affected: over 25,000 households
- Critical facilities: 47 schools and 8 hospitals
- Transportation networks: over 536 kilometers affected
It is important to note that most of Hat Yai district is currently classified as a 'dark blue' zone, with flood depths of 2 to 3 meters, posing a serious risk to life and property.
- A family in Hat Yai had to break through the roof of their house to escape the rapidly rising waters.
- Drones captured several scenes of survival on rooftops, including a rescue filmed by Thai PBS.
- According to GISTDA, more than 150,000 people and 25,000 households are affected, with flooding reaching 2 to 3 meters.
See also:
Thailand: the flood crisis worsens in the south
Floods in Thailand: suspended transport, tourists blocked in the south
Weather in Thailand: Climate, Seasons and 7-Day Forecast
Source: Thai PBS World
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