Rescue Teams Wade Through Floodwaters to Evacuate Patient in Ayutthaya as Chao Phraya Rises

Picture courtesy of Matichon.

Rising water levels downstream of the Chao Phraya Dam have caused flooding in several communities in Ayutthaya province, prompting emergency rescue operations, including the evacuation of an elderly patient in need of urgent medical care.

On 1 June, local authorities reported that the Chao Phraya Dam was maintaining a discharge rate of 1,100 cubic metres per second. This has led to increased water levels in the Chao Phraya River and its tributary, the Noi River, which in turn has overflowed into low-lying areas outside official flood defences.

In Sena district, particularly in the subdistricts of Ban Krathum and Hua Wiang, floodwaters have risen to between 50 and 60 centimetres, inundating homes and making access routes impassable.

In Moo 7, Ban Krathum subdistrict, the situation became critical when floodwaters reached the ground floors of homes and the only access roads to the village. Members of the Ayutthaya Ruamjai Rescue Association had to wade through deep water and use boats to reach a 66-year-old resident, Mrs. Sunan Praditsorn. She was suffering from a high fever and a severe leg infection, believed to have been caused by prolonged exposure to floodwater while retrieving belongings.

Rescue workers carefully evacuated Mrs. Sunan from her flooded home and transported her to hospital for treatment.

Local officials are closely monitoring the situation as communities outside the flood embankments remain vulnerable. Authorities have urged residents in affected zones to stay alert and avoid unnecessary exposure to the floodwaters, which may contain harmful bacteria and debris.

The incident highlights the ongoing challenges faced by riverside communities, during periods of heavy dam discharge and underscores the importance of coordinated emergency response efforts.

  Adapted by Asean Now from Matichon 2025-06-03.