Heavy seasonal rains that struck Thailand’s south late last week have left more than two million people reeling as floodwaters slowly begin to subside, officials reported, even as rescue and recovery operations enter a critical stage.

The deluge submerged vast swathes of 12 provinces — including Songkhla, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Pattani, Trang, Satun and Yala — disrupting lives, infrastructure, and vital public services on a massive scale.

The official count of affected people has risen steadily.

The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation recently estimated that roughly 2.95 million people—equivalent to more than one million households—have been impacted across nine southern provinces.

Many other reports, accounting for the larger footprint of flooding across 12 provinces, suggest the toll may exceed three million individuals.

As floodwaters recede, grim realities are emerging.

The death toll has climbed sharply, with officials confirming at least 145 fatalities, of which 110 occurred in Songkhla province — the hardest-hit region, where the commercial hub of Hat Yai suffered catastrophic inundation.

Rescue crews, taking advantage of improved access as water levels dropped, have retrieved more bodies from previously submerged areas, revealing the full scale of the disaster.

In Hat Yai, more than 630 millimetres of rain fell over a three-day span — an intensity described by meteorologists as among the worst in centuries.

As the floodwaters retreat, residents face another challenge: mud, debris and widespread infrastructural damage.

Thousands of homes have been damaged or destroyed; initial assessments indicate tens of thousands of houses in Hat Yai alone may be uninhabitable.

The human cost extends beyond immediate loss of life.

Entire communities have been displaced; thousands remain in temporary shelters; essential services such as electricity, clean water and communications have been disrupted.

Local authorities have launched emergency operations — delivering food, medical assistance, and supplies desperately needed in isolated communities.

The government has also pledged financial support for affected communities, and efforts have begun to restore services and clear debris.

But the scale of the disaster — described by some experts as among the most severe in the region in more than a decade — underscores long-term challenges.

Agricultural livelihoods, crucial for the south’s economy, have been disrupted; infrastructure including roads, hospitals, and schools has been damaged; and local enterprises, trade and tourism have all taken a serious blow.

The rebuilding and recovery ahead will require substantial resources, coordination and resilience from communities and government alike.

The floodwaters may be receding — but the aftermath has just begun.