CHONBURI, THAILAND – High tidal waves briefly flooded several main roads in Chonburi on Sunday morning, turning parts of the city center into makeshift waterways while traffic remained largely passable.
Coastal road near district office under water
The coastal road near the Chonburi district office was the worst affected stretch. Seawater covered more than 500 meters of roadway, reaching depths of 30 to 50 centimeters according to on-site observations. Small cars and motorcycles were still able to pass slowly despite the flooding, and residents said the water extended as far as the Sala Ruamjai Chon community pavilion.
Key inner-city routes also affected
Other central routes were also inundated. Seawater pushed onto the road behind the municipal stadium and along the connection behind the Provincial Administrative Organization (PAO) office. The PAO access road, an important distributor route leading among other places to a popular mangrove boardwalk, remained technically passable, but many drivers, especially those with new cars or electric vehicles, chose to avoid the flooded sections.
Drivers opt for detours as water rises
Many road users decided at short notice to switch to alternative routes once they saw the incoming tide and water standing on the carriageway. Local residents described the situation as disruptive but manageable and continued to use side streets to keep traffic flowing.
Residents describe familiar seasonal pattern
Motorcycle taxi driver Nisit Ocharoen, 52, who works at the night market in front of the provincial court, linked the flooding to a recurring seasonal pattern.
“This happens every year in December when the northeastern monsoon winds arrive. We then have such floods for three to four days,”
said Nisit, motorcycle taxi driver. He added that the water usually remained on the road only for a short time.
“It recedes after a while and the roads dry off,”
said Nisit, motorcycle taxi driver. According to him, the water level on Sunday was lower than on the previous day.
Warning over saltwater and vehicle damage
Nisit urged vehicle owners to clean their cars and motorcycles immediately after driving through seawater.
“The salt causes rust quickly,”
said Nisit, motorcycle taxi driver. Saltwater was considered a particular risk for vehicle electronics and battery units, especially in electric cars, and many drivers said they did not want to expose electrical systems and bodywork to unnecessary danger.
No official response yet from authorities
By Sunday midday there was still no official statement from local authorities. Residents said they were used to the recurring phenomenon and expected conditions to ease. According to local assessments, the water was likely to disappear completely from the affected streets within one or two days.