With 36 districts in the four southernmost provinces of Songkhla, Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat declared disaster-hit areas, the municipality area of Pattani has also been inundated and the water has reached the suburbs of Songkhla's Hat Yai district, reports said.
In Pattani province, pushed by the high tide, the Pattani River quickly overflowed to swamp the provincial town's business area, with nearly all roads 30-50 centimetres under water.
The sudden flood caused panicking shop owners to quickly move their goods to higher places.
The floodwater inundated the low-lying area opposite the city hall, the city's shrine and pillars, Muang district police station, fire station and the municipality office, and many schools.
In Songkhla, governor Thamrong Charoenkul declared villages in 42 tambons of eight districts disaster-hit. The eight districts are Hat Yai, Sadao, Rattaphum, Khuan Niang, Chana, Thepha, Nathawi and Sabayoi which cover about one half of the entire area of Songkhla province.
Continuous rain has caused water in Khlong U-taphao, Khlong Nathawi, Khlong Thepha, Khlong Rattaphum, Khlong Wa, Khlong Wad and Khlong Tam canals to have risen to an alarming level.
About 11pm on Monday, high waves and tides pushed up the water level in the Songkhla municipality to hit the Kao Seng community, forcing residents of more than 20 households to evacuate.
As of Tuesday morning, the floodwater reached Hat Yai's suburbs. The Khuan Lang municipality area in Khlong Hoy Khong district was about 50cm under water because of oveflows from canals.
The Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department declared 36 districts in the four provinces disaster areas on Monday.
