About 10,000 local residents and tourists in Hat Yai were trapped by flash floods which hit the southern tourist city early Tuesday morning, Hat Yai Mayor Prai Pattano said.
The floodwater in the cityโs business area was measured at two to three metres deep, he said.
Mr Prai said the situation is much more severe than the flood that hit the city in 2000.
โNo one had expected that the situation would be so critical, and therefore there was no evacuation of residents or tourists,โ he admitted.
He asked for donations of drinking water and food for the flood victims.
He said Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva will fly to Hat Yai this afternoon to see the situation at first hand.