KUALA LUMPUR: When Tropical Cyclone Senyar hit part of South-East Asia on Nov 21, 2025, it dumped the heaviest rain that Thailand’s Hat Yai had seen in the last 300 years.
The resulting flood rose up to the second floor, trapping a Malaysian family of 15 inside a four-storey hotel, including an 80-year-old woman and a six-year-old girl.
“I was panicking thinking about their safety. They were stranded for almost a week, made worse by the language barrier, which got in the way of them asking for help,” said Md Arif Zaidullah, 54, a family member who had remained in Malaysia.
With the nearest aid station more than 1km away, the family found it impossible to collect supplies. Some of them even developed gastritis as food was running out.
Coming to their aid were surprisingly familiar faces: fellow Malaysians serving as volunteer firefighters, who had joined the Thai authorities’ rescue operations. One of them was Raymond Leong, who led the team.
“I kept pestering Raymond because I could not reach my family.
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