Hat Yai Municipality, comprising 33 communities, covers an
area of 20.1 km2 and has a population of 157,876 people. The
municipality, located in the downstream area of the Khong UTaphao
Basin, is the center of commercial trade and administration
in southern Thailand. Its ideal geographical location also makes it
a gateway to the major neighbouring countries of Malaysia and
Singapore, and is thus a city with high tourism potential for
domestic and foreign tourists who visit year-round. Due to its geographical
characteristics and to unplanned urbanization and deforestation
in upstream areas, Hat Yai Municipality has become
extremely vulnerable to flood disasters. With its population density
and as a commercial center, the municipality has characteristics
that can magnify the impact of flooding to which it is prone. The
unprecedented flooding of 21 to 24 November 2000, triggered by
torrential rains, has been described as one of the worst natural disasters
in the history of urban Thailand. It claimed 30 lives and
severely damaged public utilities, critical facilities, and commercial
and industrial establishments. Estimated total economic losses
exceeded US $ 220 million. Indirect losses in terms of lost production
and the cost of economic recovery make the estimation
even higher. The losses caused by this adverse natural phenomenon
have deprived the municipality of resources which could be
used for social and economic development, thus impeding development.
Future recurrences of flooding on the scale of the year
2000 disaster are anticipated because the municipality continues to
engage in activities that increase the hazard potential, as well as
economic and personal vulnerability to flood damage.