Leong Beng Tat, chairman of the Sungai Petani volunteer fire and rescue team (PBS), said the main road from Hatyai to Sadao was submerged, Sinar Harian reported.

“We were informed that it’s not just one route that is affected; there are five other routes that are also flooded,” he was quoted as saying.

As a result, he said eight PBS teams had to stop in Danok while others from Johor, Perak, Selangor, and Kedah gathered there for official updates.

“So far, we have received reports that many trucks are also stranded, with the weather still unpredictable and continuous rain,” he said.

“The situation here is hard to predict because the water level, which previously decreased slightly, has now risen higher than before.”

Leong said that travelling by boat from Sadao to Hatyai took three to four hours but was currently unsuitable due to the distance and unstable conditions.

“We are always ready and will continue the journey once the water levels drop. For now, we can only wait for the latest instructions from the Thai authorities,” he said.

Deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had said that heavy vehicles might be deployed to help Malaysians stranded in Hatyai return home.

An estimated 4,000 Malaysians are stranded in Hatyai and other parts of Songkhla province due to flooding which began on Nov 19. The floods were worsened by heavy rain over the weekend.

Wisma Putra said all of the Malaysians were reported to be safe, with most staying in multi-storey hotels. Some, however, faced temporary electricity outages and limited access to food due to localised disruptions.

The Malaysian consulate-general in Songkhla has activated its operations team to assist Malaysians who may be stranded or in need of support.