ALOR SETAR:With water levels receding, Malaysian relief teams raced to rescue stranded Malaysian tourists in Hatyai — only to encounter a fire instead.

The Sungai Petani Volunteer Fire Brigade team led by Raymond Leong immediately joined the Thai firefighters to bring the situation under control.

Leong said the team was looking for stranded Malaysians in Lee Garden Hotel when they noticed thick smoke coming out from an electrical shop nearby.

The team members immediately switched to extinguish fire.

Footage from the scene showed floodwaters were at knee-deep and the bustling commercial area were now deserted.

Most residents and tourists have been evacuated.

“We are clearing the area and continuing to search along the flooded routes for Malaysian tourists who may still be stranded,” the team said.