Thailand Amongst the Top 4 Nations Most at Risk from Severe Flooding

[webfact]

File photo source: Wikipedia

 

With unusual weather patterns taking hold globally, Thailand stands prominently among nations most threatened by flooding in 2024. The World Bank's recent insights highlight that around 1.47 billion individuals worldwide are at heightened risk from river floods, torrential rains, and coastal erosion.

 

This grim statistic puts an overwhelming 89% of those at risk in lower- and middle-income regions, especially South and East Asia.

 

Of these affected, approximately 225 million people reside in India and 329 million in China, underscoring the vulnerability of the Asian region. Southeast Asia's geography—a mix of tropical storms, vast monsoon rains, and inadequate flood defences—remains particularly susceptible.

 

Thailand, however, is notably suffering this year. As reported by Statista in March 2024, evaluating annual flood impacts on populations, Thailand ranks high on the flood risk index at 9.8. Other nations sharing this critical position include Vietnam, Egypt, and Bangladesh, slightly higher at 9.9, with Myanmar and Cambodia also listed.

 

In the ongoing rainy season, Thailand's northern areas have been severely inundated, with central parts, including Bangkok, anticipating above-average rainfall. From January through August, rainfall exceeded standard levels by 5%, with forecasts predicting up to 900 mm in the ensuing months.

 

Economically, these floods are striking a heavy blow. Projections indicate that approximately 8.6 million rai (or 1.38 million hectares) of farmland will be affected, leading to agricultural and property losses totalling 46.5 billion baht. This situation is predicted to dent Thailand's GDP by around 0.27%, reported Tha Nation.

 

This intensifying pattern emphasises the urgent need for improved infrastructure and sustainable solutions in combating climate-related disasters, crucial for safeguarding Thailand's future against recurrent devastating floods.

 

-- 2024-11-05

 

 

[JimHuaHin]

There have been numerous similar "reports" over the past decade or so, which have been largely ignored by various Thai governments.  The Thai youth of today and their children will be paying the price of this inaction in the decades to come.

 

 

[mfd101]

We'll all have to move to Spain.

[Tarteso]

9 minutes ago, mfd101 said:

We'll all have to move to Spain.

Not a good idea..You won’t move to Spain right now🤔

 

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/live/cgk1m7g73ydt

Edited 5 hours ago by Tarteso

[Hugh Jarse]

4 hours ago, JimHuaHin said:

There have been numerous similar "reports" over the past decade or so, which have been largely ignored by various Thai governments.  The Thai youth of today and their children will be paying the price of this inaction in the decades to come.

 

 

Time to call in The Trump Centre for Climate catasrophe!

[wheresbing]

they need to dredge their waterways and rivers...people forget about sedimentation, tonnes of sediments get deposited thus reducing the amount of water their channels and rivers can hold.

[Peterphuket]

5 hours ago, wheresbing said:

they need to dredge their waterways and rivers...people forget about sedimentation, tonnes of sediments get deposited thus reducing the amount of water their channels and rivers can hold.

And dykes, dykes and more dykes.

[hotchilli]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

Thailand, however, is notably suffering this year.

We have it on the "second highest" authority that at least Bangkok will be spared.

[Skeptic7]

Gotta be tops at something❗

[Purdey]

I always remember Trump standing in New York on a cold winter day and exclaiming, Boy, we could use some of that global warming now! (or similar)

[Zack61]

I have a flood free house for sale in Chiang Rai. 
 

[PuiPuiHarry]

The Dutch started a thousand ( 1000) years ago to build dykes, along riverds and the sea. I visit Thailand businesswise since 1993, and even did notice the beginning of any interest to do anything about the fooding. And their ELITE... has zero personeal interest in that, so will never happen.

[Phuyai]

Possibly this report should reference this page at Statista?
https://www.statista.com/statistics/1306264/countries-most-exposed-to-floods-by-risk-index-score/

 

The basis for this suggested ranking is not given (but available if you create an account.

 

In my opinion, this ranking is not correct. It may depend on how the risk index score is designed.

 

Other sources that have more prominence and authority in disaster and climate science give different rankings.

 

World Resources Insitute ranks Thailand 12th with China, Bangladesh, India, and Vietnam in the top four places.
https://www.wri.org/insights/worlds-15-countries-most-people-exposed-river-floods

You can play with the WRI flood model and see the results in a map here
https://www.wri.org/floods

I think the model is using rainfall statistics to generate flood estimates and spatial population maps to estimate the impacted population rather than reported flood-affected people (which may be the source information used by Statisica)

Another website that gives population at risk is VisualCapitalist
https://www.visualcapitalist.com/countries-highest-flood-risk/

It reports on the population living within the 1% chance annual flood (1 in 100 year flood). It gives the countries by total population at risk - China, India, Bangladesh, Indonesia, and Pakistan.

Edited 3 hours ago by Phuyai
remove paragraph space

[Phuyai]

A relevant figure from a paper published in Nature Communications (2022)

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-022-30727-4

[Rampant Rabbit]

load of crap " unusual weather" build on flood  planes  cut down all the trees nothing unusual about any of it just more media  crap

[Dutchjohn]

2 hours ago, mfd101 said:

We'll all have to move to Spain.

Valencia.....Barcelona?

 

[PeeJayEm]

Not a simple single issue or solution. Severe flooding in Thailand is caused by a combination of natural, environmental, and human factors:

 

1. Monsoon Rains: Thailand experiences heavy rainfall during the monsoon season, typically between May and October. This prolonged rainfall can lead to river overflow, flash floods, and the saturation of soil, which contributes to flooding.

2. Tropical Storms and Typhoons: Occasionally, tropical storms or typhoons pass through Thailand or nearby regions, intensifying rainfall. These storms can bring sudden, intense rainfall, which overwhelms rivers and drainage systems.

 

3. Geography and River Systems: Thailand’s geography, with low-lying areas and a network of rivers such as the Chao Phraya, Mekong, and Mun rivers, makes it vulnerable to flooding. These rivers can easily overflow during heavy rainfall, inundating surrounding areas.

 

4. Deforestation and Land Use Changes: Deforestation and land clearing for agriculture, urbanization, and industrial activities reduce the land’s natural water absorption capacity. The removal of trees and vegetation increases surface runoff, leading to faster accumulation of water in rivers and floodplains.

 

5. Urbanization and Poor Drainage Systems: Rapid urban development, especially in cities like Bangkok, has reduced green spaces and disrupted natural water flow. Increased impermeable surfaces (like concrete) prevent water from seeping into the ground, and aging or inadequate drainage systems struggle to cope with the large volumes of water.

 

6. Climate Change: Climate change has intensified rainfall patterns, leading to more frequent and severe rainfall events. Rising sea levels also contribute to coastal flooding, especially in low-lying coastal areas and regions around river deltas.

 

7. Dam Mismanagement and Water Release: Thailand has several dams to control water supply and prevent drought, but during heavy rainfall, the controlled release of water from dams can lead to downstream flooding. Mismanagement or uncoordinated water release, especially during peak rainy seasons, can exacerbate flood risks.

 

8. Subsidence: Ground subsidence, particularly in Bangkok, where over-extraction of groundwater has caused the ground to sink, worsens flooding. Subsidence makes it difficult for water to drain and increases the impact of rising sea levels and coastal flooding.

 

Each of these factors can act alone or in combination, often resulting in prolonged, severe flooding that affects homes, infrastructure, and agriculture, especially in central and northeastern Thailand.

[kingstonkid]

2 hours ago, Peterphuket said:

And dykes, dykes and more dykes.

The solution is simple but not easy to enact.  Dredging of waterways is part. The other is to either buy land or use royal government land to develop basins along the River run mini canals to farms and have farmers enact the sustainable farm system 

 

Bma instead of screwing the jj market people should create a canal recovery system with a schedule. To clean up the canals in the city.  All the Thais physically fit on welfare should be hired to do this

[Presnock]

6 hours ago, JimHuaHin said:

There have been numerous similar "reports" over the past decade or so, which have been largely ignored by various Thai governments.  The Thai youth of today and their children will be paying the price of this inaction in the decades to come.

 

 

Yessir lived here in BKK 1976-1979 and it flooded big time every year.  at most large intersections within the city, small boats would ferry people across the intersection.  We still survived and still went to work daily.

[Crazy Noobie]

Now maybe the Thai government will get their act together and start putting in flood control systems. If the right flood control systems (canals , dykes and etc) in place, there will be no flooding in any of the cities. 

[Sigmund]

If the sewage systems are not cleaned every year and upgraded (more large diameter) to adapt, for sure the current flooding we have each year in the international cities of Thailand...will only get worse and be a disgrace in front of the entire world.

 

Foreigners who come in the rainy season and end up with water up to their knees, will go back and tell everybody in their countries , that Thailand is not safe place and an underdevelopped country.

[renaissanc]

2 hours ago, Zack61 said:

I have a flood free house for sale in Chiang Rai. 
 

At least you have a second floor.

[Captain Flack]

I have removed a off topic troll post.
 

Please note if you report a post, don’t then make it worse by also replying to that post, which just causes more deflection.

[kwilco]

4 hours ago, wheresbing said:

they need to dredge their waterways and rivers...people forget about sedimentation, tonnes of sediments get deposited thus reducing the amount of water their channels and rivers can hold.

Dredging and canalisation of Bangkok has the opposite effect - it drains the water table causing subsidence. Bangkok ias a city is sinking.

Edited 49 minutes ago by kwilco

[kwilco]

1 hour ago, Sigmund said:

If the sewage systems are not cleaned every year and upgraded (more large diameter) to adapt, for sure the current flooding we have each year in the international cities of Thailand...will only get worse and be a disgrace in front of the entire world.

 

Foreigners who come in the rainy season and end up with water up to their knees, will go back and tell everybody in their countries , that Thailand is not safe place and an underdevelopped country.

Nope! not a good view of the problem - lot of people covering their ignorance with a big dose of cynicism.