Flash Flood Claims Lives of Two University Students in Pattani

Picture courtesy of Khaosod.

A flash flood struck without warning in a national park in Pattani province on the afternoon of 3 May, sweeping away two young women in front of shocked witnesses. Both were later found dead, their bodies recovered more than a kilometre apart in a desperate rescue effort hampered by the force of nature.

The victims were identified as Miss Nimusleeha, aged 21, and Miss Firdaus, aged 17, both reportedly university students. According to friends and eyewitnesses, the two had just finished swimming and were walking along the stream when a sudden torrent of mountain runoff surged through the area. Rain had been falling for hours, saturating the hills above the park.

As they tried to flee, the girls slipped on rocks and were pulled into the fast-moving current, disappearing from sight as stunned friends and park officials looked on helplessly. A total of around 30 tourists had been in the area, but most had already left due to weather warnings.

Emergency response teams from the Pho Ngoen Rescue Foundation, national park authorities, police from Na Pradu Station, and additional support units launched an urgent search. The rescue operation was extremely difficult, with officials abseiling into the stream and deploying drones and thermal detection equipment.

Miss Nimusleeha’s body was located at approximately 16:40 while Miss Firdaus was found over an hour later, about one kilometre downstream. Both were declared dead at the scene, and their bodies were transported to Khok Pho Hospital for post-mortem examination before being returned to their families for funeral rites.

Rescue teams stated that warnings had been issued earlier in the day advising against swimming due to heavy rainfall, but the victims may not have been fully aware of the danger.

The incident has prompted authorities to issue renewed warnings to the public, urging caution during the rainy season, especially in mountainous or forested national parks, where flash floods can strike suddenly and lethally.

  Adapted by Asean Now from Khaosod 2025-05-05.