PETALING JAYA: "We drank rainwater to survive," recounted a Malaysian woman rescued from the severe floods in Hat Yai, Thailand.
In a video posted by United Sikhs on Thursday (Nov 27), two women shared their ordeal, revealing they had been stranded without food and survived only by drinking rainwater.
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United Sikhs is among several volunteer groups on the ground, assisting in the rescue of thousands of Malaysians stranded by the Southern Thailand floods.
Earlier on Thursday (Nov 27), the Foreign Ministry (Wisma Putra) reported that fewer than 1,000 Malaysians remain stranded in Hat Yai.
Over 700 Malaysians were successfully evacuated to Bukit Kayu Hitam on Nov 26, including many who had been sheltering in temporary flood relief centres.
"On the ground, rescue operations coordinated by the Embassy of Malaysia in Bangkok and the Consulate General in Songkhla successfully evacuated 517 Malaysians from 22 hotels and homestays, relocating them to temporary shelters before evacuation," the ministry said in a statement.
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These rescue operations were supported by the Royal Thai Army, Pasukan Bomba Sukarelawan (PBS), United Sikhs, and other volunteer groups, with at least 18 bus trips from Hat Yai to Bukit Kayu Hitam.
Additionally, 27 Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) students and two lecturers crossed the border at Betong/Pengkalan Hulu.
Wisma Putra said evacuation efforts would continue and remain active until all affected Malaysians have been safely assisted.
With weather conditions improving, the ministry’s primary focus is the safe evacuation of all remaining stranded Malaysians.
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"All Malaysians who have not yet registered their presence are strongly urged to do so immediately and to provide accurate location details, including coordinates where possible.
"This information is critical for our teams to plan movements, prioritise vulnerable individuals, and execute timely evacuations," the ministry stated.
The ministry also appealed to family members in Malaysia who believe their relatives may still be stranded in Hat Yai to urgently contact the Wisma Putra Operations Room - especially for vulnerable groups such as the elderly, those with medical needs, or those with limited means of communication.
Information from families enables missions to locate individuals more quickly and deliver targeted assistance or prioritised evacuation.
