Floods affect 2.6m with 22 deaths

Photo: Pok Rie / Pexels

Floods across Thailand's central, eastern and western-central regions have affected 2.6 million people in 29 provinces plus Bangkok, with 22 deaths reported and water still rising in several areas. Figures from the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM), as of 6am on Tuesday 29 September, put the total at more than 940,000 households. Authorities have deployed personnel and disaster-relief machinery, and residents are being urged to follow warnings and prepare for possible evacuation. The report published on 30 September doesn't mention Koh Lanta or Krabi.

National picture

The DDPM counts 167 districts, 890 tambons and 5,077 villages flooded. Water is still rising in several areas. Residents have been asked to monitor warnings and be ready to evacuate if needed.

Deaths by area

Affected households

Pathum Thani is among the worst-hit areas in the Central Plains.

In Nonthaburi, police at Pak Kret station have recovered more than 300 licence plates torn off cars in the floodwater. They expect to find many more.

Eastern provinces

Authorities are watching the eastern provinces closely.

• Prachin Buri: The area has passed its peak. Water could still overflow flood barriers in Muang district as floodwater moves downstream from Kabin Buri.
• Rayong: Water levels are falling overall. Heavy rain is forecast for Klaeng district, and runoff could affect Muang district.
• Klong Ra-ok Dam: Authorities denied online reports that the dam in Rayong had burst. The Royal Irrigation Department (RID) inspected it and found no breach. Repair work is under way on an eroded area beside the dam. Residents were urged not to panic and to rely on official information.

West and Kanchanaburi

Srinagarind and Vajiralongkorn dams in Kanchanaburi had halted discharges for two days, but releases could restart. The larger discharge is expected to raise water levels downstream of Mae Klong Dam by more than 80 cm.

• Warnings: They cover Kanchanaburi, Ratchaburi, Samut Songkhram and Samut Sakhon.
• Mae Klong Dam: The RID may raise releases to more than 2,000 cubic metres per second. The Khwae Noi and Khwae Yai rivers are still rising.
• Timing: The extra water should take about 3 days to reach Mae Klong Dam, then about 17 more hours to reach Amphawa in Samut Songkhram.
• Advice for residents: People in low-lying areas along the Mae Klong River and nearby waterways were advised to move belongings to higher ground. They were also told to watch vulnerable people (the elderly and the sick) and prepare evacuation plans.
• Phetchaburi: The RID is holding water back to reduce the impact on residents. The reservoir is about 94% full but can still take more water.
• Kanchanaburi mining site: Water was reported to have emerged from an old mining site. Officials found the affected area about 4 km from the former mine, and it was a sediment-trapping site. The Pollution Control Department has collected samples for testing.

What this means for travellers

• Koh Lanta and Krabi: The article doesn't mention the south or Krabi. The flooding it describes is in the central, eastern and western-central regions.
• Bangkok and the central region: Expect transport disruption and possible evacuations. Bangkok, Pathum Thani, Ayutthaya and Nonthaburi are affected.
• Eastern coast: Chon Buri (the Pattaya area) has high household impact and rising water. Rayong is easing, but rain is forecast for Klaeng and Muang districts.
• Kanchanaburi and Amphawa: The river and Mae Klong flood surge will reach this area over the coming days, roughly 3 days plus 17 hours from the dam release to Amphawa. That could affect River Kwai trips and the floating market.
• Flights: Related headlines say Thai Airways cancelled 37 more flights, and a US aircraft carrier will call on Phuket. The article gives no details on either, so treat them as headlines only.
• General advice: Follow official warnings, avoid low-lying riverside areas, and check the latest alerts before travelling.

Information sourced from Bangkok Post.