Misleading photo of Vietnam floods circulated as southern Thailand

In November 2025, severe floods forced thousands to evacuate southern Thailand. However, a widely circulated image claiming to depict the disaster actually shows a flooded area in central Vietnam. The photographer confirmed to AFP that the picture was taken on October 29, 2025.

A Facebook post in Thai, shared on November 25, 2025, reads: "Latest image: the whole area is about to go under. Hat Yai is flooded." The post, which has been shared over 26,000 times, includes an aerial shot of submerged homes and farmland.

The government declared a state of emergency in southern Songkhla province on November 25 after torrential rains inundated Hat Yai and surrounding areas. Tens of thousands were displaced, and at least 55 people died, according to officials.

The same image has circulated across multiple social media platforms in Thailand, including Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, Threads, X, and YouTube. Users in Myanmar and Malaysia have also shared it. Despite these claims, the photo does not depict Thailand.

Origin of the Image

A reverse image search traced the photograph to a TikTok clip shared on November 21, 2025, showing flooding in central Vietnam. Its Vietnamese caption read: "Central Vietnam, the rain and floods have submerged everything #sosad."

Further investigation revealed the photo had been published on the government website Vietnam.VN, documenting historic floods in central Vietnam on October 30, 2025. The image was credited to military photographer Mai Thanh Hai, who confirmed he captured it from a military aircraft over Hoi An on October 29, 2025, during an approach to Da Nang Airport.

Hai identified landmarks in the photo, including Cua Dai Bridge, and noted that the flooded area included a coconut forest. His photos were also published by Ho Chi Minh City newspaper Thanh Nien on October 30.

Flood Impact in Vietnam

The late-October floods in central and highland Vietnam affected over 100,000 homes. By late November, the death toll reached at least 90, with more than 80,000 hectares of farmland submerged and over 3.2 million livestock lost.

AFP has previously debunked other misattributed flood images related to Thailand.

Analysis: Misattributed Images Amplify Confusion During Thailand Floods

As an observer tracking both the southern Thailand floods and online misinformation, it is clear that misattributed images are creating confusion for the public. The photograph widely shared as depicting Hat Yai’s inundation in November 2025 actually shows central Vietnam’s flooding in late October, as confirmed by the original photographer, Mai Thanh Hai. This distinction is critical for understanding the scale and location of the disaster in Thailand.

Despite the official state of emergency in Songkhla province and reports of at least 55 deaths, social media posts using the Vietnamese image spread across multiple platforms, including Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, Threads, X, and YouTube. The viral nature of these posts highlights the rapid dissemination of visual misinformation during natural disasters and underscores the need for careful verification before sharing content.

On a factual level, southern Thailand experienced severe floods affecting tens of thousands, but the misattributed image does not represent this event. Meanwhile, central Vietnam’s floods in late October were independently devastating, impacting over 100,000 homes, submerging 80,000 hectares of farmland, and causing at least 90 deaths. Accurate attribution of visual content is essential for both public awareness and disaster response planning.

In conclusion, the circulation of images from different events can distort public perception and complicate emergency reporting. Verification through official sources and direct confirmation from photographers or local authorities remains a necessary step in preventing misinformation during crises.

Sources:

• Aerial photo of Vietnam floods falsely shared as southern Thailand