Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipun. Picture courtesy of Naewna

 

Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt has announced that a significant water surge from the North is alarmingly raising the city's water levels, which he compares to the major floods of 2011. This surge, coupled with increased discharges from the Bhumipol and Sirikit dams, has left the capital's defences on high alert. However, better coordination among agencies this time aims to mitigate potential flooding disasters.

 

Chadchart explained that the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration has maintained close communication with the Royal Irrigation Department and other key agencies. This collaboration seeks to manage and alleviate rising water levels in the event of another storm, aiming to prevent a recurrence of the catastrophic 2011 floods. During an inspection of the Chao Phraya River embankments, Chadchart oversaw the reinforcement of barriers with sandbags at key points to block potential overflows.

 

Cooperation with neighbouring provincial authorities, including Samut Prakan and Nonthaburi, has been prioritised to enhance water management. The areas have seen improved drainage recently because the rain paused for three days, which allowed water levels to decrease. Measures extend to neighbouring areas, where embankments are being fortified, and drainage routes from Chachoengsao province help direct water effectively.

 

Despite the recent heavy rainfall that caused temporary flooding, the situation is improving due to the halted downpours, which allow for swifter drainage. Chadchart remains cautious, suggesting that with current improved systems and inter-agency synergy, the city should be equipped to handle rising water threats without repeating past disasters.

 

 

 

Key Takeaways:

 

• A major water surge from the North raises Bangkok's flood risk.
• Coordination with provincial and irrigation agencies aims to prevent a repeat of 2011.
• Recent dry days have improved drainage, reducing immediate flood threats.

Related Stories:

Bangkok Braces for Rain as Drains Tested by Torrential Downpours

Bangkok MRT Station Flooded: AIA to Pay for Damage

 

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Thai Newsroom 2025-09-13

 

 

The city might be but what about the surrounding areas such as Pathume Thani .

18 minutes ago, Hardcastle P said:

The city might be but what about the surrounding areas such as Pathume Thani .

 In Thailand, as far as the elite are concerned only Bangkok is important.

25 minutes ago, Hardcastle P said:

The city might be but what about the surrounding areas such as Pathume Thani .

 

Watch this space.

 

 

Reads like CYA deflection for poor water management ... 

 

... "significant water surge   from the North is alarmingly raising the city's water levels, which he compares to the major floods of 2011. This surge, coupled with increased discharges from the Bhumipol and Sirikit dams 🤬" ...

Time to stock up on bottled drinking water already? That was my main "problem" in 2011, all the local brands were sold out.

Try dredging more areas of the River Ping - The River Nan and the Chao Phraya river might ease the strain of potential flooding in BKK!

2 minutes ago, Bundooman said:

Try dredging more areas of the River Ping - The River Nan and the Chao Phraya river might ease the strain of potential flooding in BKK!

Considerale dredging of the Ping took place aout 3 months ago.There has been heavy rain in the Chiang mai area in the past month, but no repeat of flooding (yet) like  last year,maybe the dredging has worked.

16 hours ago, JimHuaHin said:

In Thailand, as far as the elite are concerned only Bangkok is important.

 

Spot on.

I just looked this morning and the rivers down about 3' here in Kanchanaburi so thats good

Why not discharge water from the dams well in time, BEFORE the rain fills them to the brink, so they have to be discharged immediately at a high rate? Why is it more important to keep water for profitless farming, than preventing flooding of much more valuable properties in the cities?

This again, like in 2011?

 

 

 

 

On 9/13/2025 at 12:57 PM, JimHuaHin said:

In Thailand, as far as the elite are concerned only Bangkok is important.

Old news Jim, that was BS from the Yingluck government. They then diverted all the water from the north so it could not get down the Chao Praya. This was insane you cant stop mother nature. Hence the great flood of 2011 where areas never wet such as Don Muang Airport were submerged. 

 

Pakkret on the river where Crossy posts from floods a bit most every year. I was out on Koh Kret yesterday and they are raising walkways as the tide is now spilling over into the lower lying areas. They locals are happy doing this work as its normal for them. The walkways around the island were clean yesterday as the night tide flooded over them and then receded by the time we got there before 7am.