Heavy rain caused severe floods in southern Thailand near the border with Malaysia today.

The deluge lashed towns in Hat Yai, Songkhla province, sparking waist-deep torrents of muddy water to surge into homes.

Officials said the Kho Hong, Sadao and Namom districts were the worst affected. They requested boats and equipment to help evacuate stricken residents and supplies for them to eat over the coming days.

Mayor Taweesak Taweerat stated that one village was in critical level due to receiving water from multiple directions. Two canals also had high water levels, which slowed drainage and caused flooding to reach chest height.

He said that water levels continued to rise due to continuous rain with no signs of stopping.

Taweesak also reported that parts of Kanjanavanich Road were flooded across all four lanes, leading authorities to restrict access for small vehicles.

It came as the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) issued a weather advisory warning of heavy rainfall in the south, strong winds and waves over the lower Gulf of Thailand, and cool to cold weather in the upper part of the country.

The department reported that a moderate to rather strong high-pressure system from China would extend over upper Thailand and the South China Sea.

The northeast monsoon prevailing over the Gulf of Thailand and the South was expected to strengthen, while an active low-pressure cell over the lower South China Sea would move through the lower South and Malaysia into the lower Andaman Sea.

Heavy to very heavy rains were predicted in several southern provinces, including Songkhla.

The TMD urged residents in affected areas to be cautious of flash floods and overflows, especially near waterways, foothills, and low-lying areas.

The strengthening winds were expected to cause waves in the upper Gulf and the Andaman Sea to reach about 6.6 feet (2 metres) and exceed 6.6 feet (2 metres) in thundershowers.

In the lower Gulf, waves were forecast to rise between 6.6ft and 9.8ft, exceeding 9.8ft (3m).