Weather Flash Floods Hit Pattaya, Stranding Tourists and Halting Traffic

[snoop1130]

Picture courtesy of The Pattaya News

 

Overnight downpours wreaked havoc in Pattaya, leaving the popular Thai resort city drenched and disrupted. More than 50 millimetres of rain fell, leading to flash floods that caught both locals and tourists by surprise.

 

In swift response, Chon Buri Governor Thawatchai Srithong, alongside Bang Lamung District Chief Patcharapat Sritanyanon and Pattaya Deputy Mayor Kiatisak Sriwongchai, sprang into action, conducting emergency inspections of the most affected areas. Their immediate focus was on places like the Khao Talo pumping station and the railway road, both submerged under rapid runoff.

 

Governor Thawatchai ordered urgent road repairs and the deployment of additional water pumps and personnel to mitigate the flooding impacts. “The rain hit hard and fast, overwhelming our systems,” he stated. Despite pumps operating at full capacity, it took nearly two hours to redirect the excess water into the sea.

 

Low-lying neighbourhoods, including Khao Noi, Khao Talo, and parts of Sukhumvit Road in South Pattaya, faced the worst of the flooding. Roads in these areas became impassable, and while local residents knew to avoid these routes, tourists unfamiliar with Pattaya’s geography found themselves caught in the deluge.

 

Flooding is a familiar foe in Pattaya, though recent improvements have reduced the number of critically flood-prone zones from over twenty to nine. This progress is part of a significant 9-billion-baht flood prevention project being rolled out by the Department of Public Works. The initiative focuses on water retention systems that aim to slow down runoff and alleviate pressure on existing drainage systems.

 

Further complicating efforts, a residential area near the Four Regions Floating Market remained waterlogged after thieves reportedly pilfered electrical cables from a crucial city pump, disabling it. In response, private companies were enlisted to provide additional support with extra pumps, while Pattaya City deployed generators to ensure drainage operations continued unabated.

 

Light rains persisted into the day, keeping officials on high alert. Constant monitoring of weather forecasts and water levels remains a priority as the city navigates this challenging situation.

 

Governor Thawatchai stressed the importance of developing long-term solutions. While acknowledging the progress made in recent years, he noted, “We must continue to advance our infrastructure to safeguard both residents and visitors from future flooding incidents.”

 

As the city works through the current aftermath, the focus remains on both recovery and strategic infrastructure improvement to fortify Pattaya against similar events in the future. The determination to better equip the city in handling such natural challenges continues to drive the efforts of local authorities and community members alike.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Thaiger 2025-09-09

 

 

[Crossy]

Do you ever get that feeling of déja-vu?

 

Do you ever get that feeling of déja-vu?

 

Every year millions are spent on flood mitigation and yet ...

 

 

[topt]

I am surprised that the Chon Buri governor himself put in a personal visit even though the flooding doesn't seem to be anything special compared to previous years?

 

Also our mayor was absent - holiday maybe?

[topt]

Just now, Crossy said:

Every year millions are spent on flood mitigation and yet ...

Maybe that's what the governor was looking into............

[johng]

6 minutes ago, topt said:

the flooding doesn't seem to be anything special compared to previous years?

 

Yes the last few years flooding have been a bit lacklustre..due to

global warming ?  err climate change ?...this year  a slight flood index improvement but could do much better  if it just tried a bit harder.