Hat yai: The dire flood situation in Hat Yai, Thailand, is said to be worsening as floodwaters started to breach the first floor of one building today. This was shared by Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) student, Mimi Nadzirah Afiqah Md Suhaimi, 21, who is still stranded at the Wangburapa Grand Hotel with 35 other students and four lecturers from the university.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the water level has risen to the first floor, and rescuers in boats are having difficulty reaching the location due to the high and swift current. Despite these challenges, the UUM students and staff remain safe, although they are experiencing limited food resources. Mimi Nadzirah communicated through a WhatsApp message shared by UUM to the media that the Malaysian Consulate-General has sent food supplies, but rations are limited for sharing.

Yesterday, UUM announced that the evacuation operation of 40 trapped students and lecturers to a safe place had been postponed due to heavy rains still lashing Hat Yai. According to UUM, coordination between the Consulate-General of Malaysia in Songkhla and local authorities in Hat Yai will be carried out as soon as possible when the rains subside.

A total of 40 students and accompanying lecturers from the Tunku Puteri Intan Safinaz School of Accountancy (TISSA-UUM) were in Hat Yai to participate in the Thai-MYS Cultural Exchange programme 2025 and have been stranded since Nov 22.