Comparison of Floodwater Volume in Hat Yai in 2025: Detention Ponds Exceeded Capacity
Share article
Statistics show that over just three days, more than 500 million cubic meters of water flooded into Hat Yai city. The 2025 municipal flood response plan includes nine detention pond sites, but these could not handle the volume. Combined with prolonged heavy rain, this caused the worst flooding in 30 years, beyond anyone's expectation. Meanwhile, many residents still await assistance.
Mr. Thanarot Waratprasert, Director of the National Water Command Center at the Office of the National Water Resources (ONWR), explained that historically, rainfall in Hat Yai is usually scattered in the upper watershed areas, allowing water to drain quickly. However, this time, heavy rain fell directly over Hat Yai city, causing flash floods from the surrounding mountains to flow down simultaneously into the urban area—an event not seen in 30 years.
Compared to 2010, when water flow through Hat Yai was 1,600 cubic meters per second, this year the flow reached about 3,000 cubic meters per second—double the previous record. This makes it the most severe flooding event compared to other incidents in the region during 2025.
Over three days (22-24 Nov 2025), 500 million cubic meters of water flooded the area.
There are nine detention pond risk points.
1. Hat Yai Municipality Park can hold 94,000 cubic meters.
2. Senanrong Camp Golf Course can hold 74,000 cubic meters.
3. Senanrong Camp Hospital can hold 15,000 cubic meters.
4. Songkhla Nakarin University reservoir can hold 377,500 cubic meters.
5. Public nursery can hold 85,000 cubic meters.
6. Traffic park and public park can hold 7,000 cubic meters.
7. 42nd Military Circle can hold 70,000 cubic meters.
8. Rubber Research Center can hold 50,000 cubic meters.
9. Khlong Rian detention pond, Kho Hong subdistrict, can hold 530,000 cubic meters.
Total capacity is 1,302,500 cubic meters.
