Why are Malaysian students unable to return home from Hat Yai?

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Malaysian Students Stranded in Hat Yai Due to Severe Flooding and Infrastructure Disruptions

Malaysian students are unable to return home from Hat Yai, Thailand, due to severe and ongoing flooding that has rendered transportation impossible and disrupted essential services. The extreme weather has led to high water levels, cutting off access routes and leaving students without adequate food supplies and stable communication. The situation is compounded by the lack of electricity and water at their accommodation.
Severe Flooding Impedes Transportation

The primary reason Malaysian students cannot return home is the severity of the flooding in Hat Yai. Water levels have risen to a point where normal vehicular traffic is impossible, with floodwaters exceeding the height of trucks, pickups, and four-wheel-drive vehicles. This makes any attempt to reach the Malaysia-Thailand border or travel back to Malaysia unfeasible for the stranded students.
Disruption of Essential Services at Accommodation

Students from Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM), comprising 36 individuals and four lecturers, are housed at the Wangburapa Grand Hotel. This accommodation has been severely impacted by the floods, experiencing a complete loss of electricity and water supply since the morning. Furthermore, floodwaters have inundated the hotel's ground floor, although the students remain safe on the fifth level.
Limited Resources and Communication Challenges

The stranded students are facing critical shortages of essential resources, particularly food. Their current supplies are described as very limited, consisting of only light food items. Communication is also a significant issue, with unstable phone lines making it difficult for students to contact their families, university authorities, or seek immediate assistance.
Impact on Academic Events and Student Well-being

The flooding has not only prevented students from returning home but has also caused them to miss important academic events. Haniswati Rahmat, a student from Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP), is unable to attend her convocation ceremony due to being trapped in Hat Yai. The continuous rainfall and rising water levels, with strong currents, as of 9.43 pm Thailand time, indicate that the situation is not abating, prolonging the students' predicament and their inability to travel.

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Why are Malaysian students unable to return home from Hat Yai?

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