THAILAND – Heavy seasonal rains left large swathes of Thailand under water, with residents in 16 provinces coping with submerged roads, boats replacing motorcycles and families sheltering on rooftops as they tried to salvage their belongings.
Central Thailand bore the brunt
The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation reported on Sunday morning that flooding persisted across nine provinces in the central plain. In most places water levels were steady, but authorities said some areas were seeing renewed rises.
Suphan Buri experienced growing volumes of floodwater, particularly in the districts of Bang Pla Ma, Song Phi Nong and Don Chedi. Wide tracts of land in Uthai Thani, Chai Nat, Sing Buri and Ang Thong also remained submerged.
Ayutthaya was identified as the worst affected area, with officials saying more than 51,000 households had been impacted. Districts including Sena, Bang Ban, Bang Sai and Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya were described as critical, even though water levels there had stabilised at the time of the report.
Rivers burst their banks
Many of the floods were the result of rivers overflowing after heavy rains in the north fed the Chao Phraya and its tributaries. The swollen river system continued to carry high flows downstream into already inundated lowland areas.
Local officials warned that the situation could deteriorate quickly if more rain fell. Authorities in Pathum Thani, Nonthaburi and Nakhon Pathom said conditions were stable for the moment but stressed the risk from further downpours.
Northern regions still recovering
In the north, the picture improved only slowly. Water levels in Phitsanulok were falling slightly, while Sukhothai and parts of Phichit reported continued rises in some river gauges. Nakhon Sawan remained tense, with several districts including Chumsaeng and Muang still underwater.
Local agencies continued to deploy pumps and reinforce defences with sandbags to limit damage to homes and infrastructure.
Flooding extends to the northeast and east
The northeast was also hard hit. Ubon Ratchathani and Udon Thani saw many districts and agricultural land inundated; responders said water levels were “stable, but high.” In districts such as Muang, Warin Chamrap and Ban Dung, residential areas and fields were under water.
Relief teams distributed drinking water, food and medicine to isolated villages. Power outages occurred intermittently in some areas and roads remained impassable, complicating relief operations.
In the east, only Chachoengsao still reported ongoing flooding, with levels easing slightly, though meteorologists cautioned that new rainfall in the coming days could raise waters again.
Authorities urge continued vigilance
Officials appealed for residents to remain alert and review evacuation plans. They advised people to secure power lines, keep children away from floodwaters and follow local guidance.
Emergency services and community volunteers were engaged in response efforts, reinforcing protective measures and delivering aid where access allowed. While some areas showed signs of stabilisation, authorities emphasised that the threat had not passed and further rain could reverse any gains.