A family of ten from Singapore was trapped in the severe floods in Hat Yai, Thailand, experiencing power outages, water cuts, and no communication, with several days passing without food. One member, who had gone out to buy food, was swept away by floodwaters, clinging to railings and walls for five harrowing hours before being rescued by a Thai resident, who then gave him shelter in his home for two agonizing days.
According to 8world News, the ten Singaporean travelers stranded by the severe floods in Hat Yai returned to Singapore safely on Friday (28th) afternoon on a Scoot flight.
74-year-old Toh Ting Seng led a self-drive team of nine relatives, departing from Singapore last week, first to Penang, Malaysia, and then onward to Hat Yai, Thailand. The plan was to head south to Genting Highlands on the 25th of this month, but a sudden flood on the 22nd caused them to be trapped in their hotel, facing water and power outages as well as loss of communication.
Toh’s son, Toh Rui Cong, told 8world News at Changi Airport that the family had lost contact with the outside world for two days from Saturday (23rd); their phones had no signal or battery, so they could only power up intermittently by taking turns.
"The 10 people trapped range in age from 61 to 81, most of whom have chronic illnesses such as diabetes and high blood pressure requiring daily medication, which made family members back in Singapore extremely anxious."
Toh Ting Seng recalled in an interview that he is still shaken by the moment he was swept away by the flood. The water started surging rapidly around midnight on the 20th, and by around 3 a.m., the hotel had lost all water and electricity. The next day, he began going to a mall two kilometers from the hotel to charge his phone and buy food.
Fortunately, a Thai resident heard his cries for help, found a floatation device, and pulled him into his home for shelter. Toh admitted the water had already reached his chin, and later it rose up to the second floor. He stayed with the kind-hearted family for two nights, surviving on porridge and instant noodles. When a charity organization later distributed relief supplies, a rescue boat took him back to the hotel to reunite with his family.
His return finally put his anxious wife, Tan Soh Hua, at ease.
"He was gone for three days. I thought he had died, but thankfully, he came back in the end."
While Toh was trapped outside, the remaining nine family members were stuck in the hotel enduring hunger, shouting for help every day.
It is reported that the Thai authorities deployed helicopters to drop food from the air, but the supplies were scarce. The hotel had about 70 people inside, but only eight items such as biscuits and instant noodles were dropped.
73-year-old Tan Soh Hua said those stranded were all cooperative and kind.
"Everyone helped each other; we worked together. Even if there was just one piece of biscuit, everyone shared it."
Toh Ting Seng described how the floodwaters surged dramatically on the afternoon of the 23rd, to an unimaginable extent.
"I saw refrigerators being swept away and cars being washed away. The force of the water was tremendous."
Additionally, Toh Rui Cong said family members back in Singapore tried to contact Thai authorities, the Singapore government, and ministers for help, but deep water and collapsed buildings prevented rescue boats from entering, so all they could do was keep requesting for food to be sent in.
Later, on the fourth day of being trapped, relief boats began distributing lunch boxes. However, some people vomited and had diarrhea due to the harsh conditions and the food.
On Thursday (27th) morning, flood conditions in Hat Yai eased a bit, and they decided to brave the journey from the hotel to the airport.
At 7 a.m., they followed a route previously shared by Malaysian tourists and walked out.
Toh Ting Seng said: "We were lucky; after less than an hour of walking, a car took us to a shopping center."
Afterwards, they transferred to another vehicle to Hat Yai city center and then attempted to take a bus to the airport. However, the bus took them to a military camp crowded with thousands of evacuees.
Later, after the Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs received their plea for help, two cars were sent to take them to the airport. But only four of them managed to get in the cars, and the remaining six took military vehicles to the airport.
It took the group a total of nine hours to reach Hat Yai Airport, where they spent the night.
After reaching the airport, the family looked everywhere for a flight to Singapore. Initially, they had booked a flight for Friday (28th) at 11 p.m., but after learning Scoot flights had resumed, they changed to a 1 p.m. flight and returned early to Singapore.
Tan Soh Hua and relatives were emotional upon arrival, crying when they saw family and helpers, expressing the sentiment they had survived a life-threatening ordeal.
Recalling the ordeal of being swept away, Toh Ting Seng expressed gratitude to the local Thai people as well as the Thai and Singaporean governments for their help.
Other relatives said they were "very happy" to return safely to Singapore, saying, "It’s so good to be home."
When asked by reporters whether they'd still travel abroad in the future, the couple steadfastly replied, "Yes."