Bangkok: Thailand has escalated its flood-relief efforts dramatically, dispatching the aircraft carrier HTMS Chakri Naruebet to aid southern regions battered by record monsoon rains. The decision reflects the severity of a crisis that has already affected some 1.9 million people.
The Royal Thai Navy is sending naval, air, and medical resources: alongside the carrier, two helicopters, special operations teams, and 14 inflatable rescue boats are en route. The ship is loaded with relief supplies, drinking water, and field kitchens that can prepare up to 3,000 meals per day. Its medical division is also being converted to a floating hospital, ready to treat flood victims.
The floods come after an exceptionally intense weather system, described by the Royal Irrigation Department as a powerful monsoon trough combined with a low-pressure zone, which unleashed 630 mm of rain over three days in parts of the south. One-day rainfall in Hat Yai a financial and commercial hub in Songkhla province measured 335 mm, marking the worst in over 300 years. In some districts, floodwaters have surged to 2 meters, inundating homes and swallowing roads.
Evacuation orders are under way, particularly in the most vulnerable zones. Residents report severe shortages: dozens have appealed for food and drinking water, and many say phone signals are down as floodwaters rise rapidly.
The disaster is not limited to Thailand. Heavy flooding has extended into eight Malaysian states, forcing over 18,500 people into emergency shelters. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim called the situation “difficult and challenging,” urging maximum support to affected populations.
Beyond the humanitarian toll, the floods pose a serious economic risk, especially to Thailand’s rubber sector. The government’s rubber agency estimates that output could drop by around 10,300 tons, as plantations are submerged and farmers struggle to harvest. As one of the world’s top rubber producers, such a disruption could have far-reaching supply chain consequences.
Relief operations are straining under the scale of the disaster. Thousands of requests for evacuation, food, and medical help have poured in over the last few days. Meanwhile, the Office of National Water Resources (ONWR) has projected that while rainfall may ease slightly between November 26 and 30, heavy showers are still likely in parts of the south. Experts warn that draining the floodwaters may take at least a week, even with pumps and water-propulsion efforts underway.
On the economic front, daily losses are mounting. According to the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, trade and tourism in the affected southern provinces are incurring 1 to 1.5 billion baht in losses every day. The Tourism Authority of Thailand has launched an emergency relief package for local operators, while also preparing promotional campaigns to restore traveler confidence once waters recede.
This is a rare deployment of a naval aircraft carrier for domestic humanitarian relief underscoring how dire the situation has become. The flooding is not just a short-term emergency: it threatens lives, critical infrastructure, and one of Thailand’s major export industries. As monsoon systems and extreme weather become more volatile, the crisis raises urgent questions about resilience, climate adaptation, and cross-border coordination in Southeast Asia.