Flooding has impacted several riverside communities in Pakkret district, Nonthaburi province, due to the Chao Phraya River overflowing. However, Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt has assured residents that the capital remains safe from flooding unless water discharged from the Chao Phraya Dam in Chainat province surpasses 3,000 cubic meters per second (m³/s).
In Nonthaburi, residents in Bang Phut Samakkhi 2 and a community near a Chinese shrine have been coping with floodwaters since yesterday. Local residents, such as “Ubon,” reported that while the ground floor of his home is submerged, his family has moved upstairs, and the water levels are not as severe as in the major floods of 2011. Another resident, “Or,” expressed frustration, noting that her food business had to halt operations due to the flooding, which has rendered the ground floor and her toilet unusable.
Governor Chadchart stated that Bangkok is currently not at risk, as water flow from the Chao Phraya Dam is approximately 2,200m³/s, still below the critical 3,000m³/s threshold. Authorities are monitoring the potential impact of high tides expected on October 20, but Chadchart said this is not a significant concern as the rainy season tapers off.
In the Rongsee community, which lacks concrete flood barriers, city officials have reinforced sandbag embankments and constructed wooden bridges to help residents navigate the area safely.
Since August 16, 44 provinces across Thailand have experienced flooding. The Department of Public Disaster Prevention and Mitigation reported that while most of these areas have returned to normal, 19 provinces, including Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, Sukhothai, and Ayutthaya, remain flooded. The widespread floods have affected 242,558 households, resulting in 52 deaths and 28 injuries.
