Authorities in southern Thailand fear that the death toll from severe flooding in Hat Yai could exceed 100, as rising political pressure prompts calls for the government to apologize for alleged failures in its disaster management.
The inundation has crippled Hat Yai — the region’s economic center — and left communities struggling with food shortages, communication breakdowns, and mounting fatalities.
As waters receded across Hat Yai district and surrounding areas of Songkhla province, Police Lt. Gen. Trairong Phiewphan, Deputy Inspector General of the Royal Thai Police, confirmed that 104 deceased victims had been sent for identification as of 8:30pm on November 27.
The bodies were transported from multiple hospitals and disaster zones within Songkhla and nearby areas.
The updated total of 104 fatalities surpasses the previous official count of 85. According to Police Lt. Gen. Trairong, one of the main priorities is distinguishing between bodies sent from hospitals and the 47 bodies recovered directly from disaster zones by search teams.
Those recovered from disaster sites will undergo detailed forensic analysis to determine whether the victims died from pre-existing health issues or as a direct result of the floods.
Local leaders have expressed alarm over the scale of devastation. Songkhla Member of Parliament Saksit Khawthong, of the opposition Democrat Party, described the scenes he witnessed over three consecutive days as “like ‘the end of the world.’”
He reported chaotic relief efforts and humanitarian breakdowns, including “people fighting for food along the streets, evacuation centers… unmanaged, bodies floating in and being placed on the roadside, [and] screams of anguish echoing throughout the night.”
Rescue teams also reported overwhelming challenges in processing the deceased. The San Kamphaeng Rescue Association from Chiang Mai stated that they encountered a “large number of ‘black cases’ [dead bodies] on site — some stuffed in refrigerators, some floating inside houses, some tied to house pillars.”
They added that there was a critical shortage of body storage bags, complicating the recovery process.
Social media has become a lifeline for many affected residents. A Facebook user, Pook Sukonta Berthebaud, posted an urgent plea for a friend trapped in the Chok Saman area: “Five bodies have already floated past right in front of them.”
“I don’t want my friend to become the sixth. My friend hasn’t eaten for six days. If there’s no food, then just come collect the body—if it comes to that. Seeing this breaks my heart.”
Official Count and Escalating Political Fallout
The official death toll for Songkhla province currently stands at 85, according to Siripong Angkaskulkiat, spokesperson for the Forward Flood Emergency Operations Center in Bangkok, based on data from Songklanagarind Hospital.
Of those, 55 fatalities are confirmed to be flood-related, while 30 are attributed to other causes.
In response, Royal Thai Police Commissioner-General Kittirat Phanphet has ordered the creation of a Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) center in Hat Yai to oversee centralized forensic procedures for body collection and identification.
Political scrutiny is intensifying. Opposition parties are demanding accountability and a public apology from the government.
Pharadorn Prisnananthakul, the Minister attached to the Prime Minister’s Office and Director of the Forward Flood Emergency Operations Center, appeared visibly uneasy during a press briefing and refused to answer questions regarding government responsibility.
He issued only brief thanks before abruptly exiting the conference.
His earlier remarks have sparked backlash. Opposition deputy secretary-general Linthipon Warinwatchararoj of the Pheu Thai Party condemned Pharadorn’s statement that “don’t blame anyone — the people, government, and operational units are learning lessons together.”
Linthipon countered that the government must “clearly acknowledge mistakes in disaster management that caused widespread suffering and loss of life, issue a sincere apology, and only then extract lessons from the failures and deficient management.”
To support affected families, the government has approved 2 million baht (around $62,000 USD) in funeral compensation for every confirmed flood-related death, with initial payments scheduled for distribution on November 28.
In addition, the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society announced that emergency internet connectivity from SpaceX’s Starlink satellite service—obtained despite criticism over delays—is expected to arrive in Thailand by Friday, November 28, to support ongoing relief and rescue operations.
