BANGKOK, Thailand – Flooding remains active across 29 provinces and Bangkok, affecting more than 2.6 million people, while the cumulative death toll since 16 September has risen to 23, according to the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation. In its situation report issued at 6am on Tuesday, the department said flooding continued across 167 districts, 890 subdistricts and 5,077 villages, affecting 940,300 households and 2,602,309 people, with 42 provinces and Bangkok having experienced flooding since 16 September. Water levels were rising in 14 provinces, stable in six provinces and Bangkok, and falling in nine provinces.

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In the North, Tak recorded five affected districts covering 1,162 households and 3,649 people with water rising, while Phitsanulok saw five districts affected with water falling, Phetchabun six districts with water falling, and Nakhon Sawan eleven districts covering 7,777 households and 24,420 people with water rising.

Central provinces remained heavily affected, with Samut Prakan recording the largest number of affected residents nationwide, as flooding across six districts affected 260,784 households and 818,862 people, with eight deaths reported and water levels falling. In Pathum Thani, seven districts were affected covering 113,323 households and 355,834 people with one death and water rising, while in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya flooding affected eight districts covering 28,176 households and 88,473 people with one death, as water overflowing riverbanks following increased releases from Chao Phraya Dam continued to push levels higher.

Other affected central provinces included Nakhon Pathom with seven districts and stable water, Suphan Buri with seven districts and rising water, Uthai Thani with eight districts and stable water, Lop Buri with five districts and stable water, Chai Nat with five districts and rising water, Ang Thong with three districts and stable water, Saraburi with eight districts and one male death with water falling, Sing Buri with three districts and rising water after increased Chao Phraya Dam releases caused river overflow, Kanchanaburi’s Sai Yok district with 12 households and rising water, and Nonthaburi’s Mueang Nonthuburi, Pak Kret and Bang Kruai districts where damage assessment was still under way and water levels were rising.

In the East, Chonburi saw flooding affect 10 districts covering 118,723 households and 372,790 people with water continuing to rise, while Chachoengsao had 11 districts affected with rising water, Sa Kaeo seven districts with six deaths and rising water, Chanthaburi nine districts with two deaths and falling water, Nakhon Nayok four districts with rising water, Prachin Buri seven districts with rising water, Trat three districts with stable water, and Rayong five districts with falling water.

In the Northeast, Buri Ram recorded five districts affected with water falling, Nakhon Ratchasima’s Pak Chong district had 2,708 households affected with water falling, Surin two districts with stable water, and Chaiyaphum three districts with water falling. Bangkok has experienced severe flooding since 25 September following prolonged heavy rain, with the department saying approximately 329,000 households, or around 700,000 people, had been affected, with four deaths reported and no injuries or missing persons, and water levels currently stable. Relief operations involve the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, the department, the Drainage and Sewerage Department, district offices, military units, police, local authorities, civil defence volunteers, other volunteers and foundations, with teams assisting residents, managing traffic and accelerating drainage from flooded areas, and authorities having opened 233 temporary shelters.

The Central Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Command has issued its fifth warning on the Chao Phraya basin, instructing provinces and Bangkok to alert government agencies, businesses operating along rivers and canals, and riverside communities, with businesses including riverbank construction sites and floating restaurants told to monitor conditions closely. Chao Phraya Dam is expected to release 1,500 to 2,000 cubic metres per second over the next one to nine days, which could raise downstream water levels by approximately 0.70 to 1.70 metres.

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The Thai Meteorological Department reported that in the 24 hours to 1am on 29 September, the highest rainfall in Bangkok and surrounding areas was 42.4mm at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bang Phli district, Samut Prakan, classified as heavy rain, with rainfall expected to ease overall although very heavy rain remains possible in some areas, particularly in the western North, while parts of the Central region and East may also continue to experience heavy rain. The department said a low-pressure system over the Gulf of Martaban had moved over the coast of Myanmar while the south-westerly monsoon over the Andaman Sea, South and Gulf of Thailand was weakening, though residents were nevertheless advised to remain alert for flash floods, forest run-off and landslides, particularly around foothills near waterways and in low-lying areas.

-Thailand News (TN)