Government spokesperson Ekapop Pienpisit said the water situation in Ban Khao Wang Sai, Klaeng District, Rayong Province, has reached a critical stage. At 10:00 a.m., the water level at gauge station Z.11 stood at 7.21 meters, rising rapidly by 15 centimeters within one hour from 7.06 meters at 9:00 a.m. Meanwhile, the flow rate increased to 205.20 cubic meters per second, above the critical threshold of 168.00 cubic meters per second, causing the water level to exceed the riverbank by 68 centimeters. A large mass of water from upstream areas has flowed down and joined the current, pushing water levels in the Prase River and nearby areas higher and causing rapid, strong currents. The government is therefore urging people who have already evacuated to absolutely refrain from returning to low-lying riverside areas and to stay in safe locations. People in downstream areas should monitor water levels that may rise and suddenly overflow into their areas, closely follow official warnings, and contact authorities immediately if they need assistance. Government agencies are fully mobilizing forces to help the public.
Yoschanan Unveils 7 Thai Innovations to Fight Floods, Aiming to Help 25,000 Households
Professor Dr. Yoschanan Wongsawat, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, disclosed that the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, together with the National Research Council of Thailand, is deploying 7 Thai innovations to fight floods in real areas, covering everything from early warning and assistance during the event to recovery after the waters recede, with a goal of expanding assistance to approximately 23,000 to 25,000 households nationwide. The innovations are divided into 3 phases. In the preparedness phase before an incident, the Flood Boy and Flood Eye systems from Mae Fah Luang University and Chiang Mai University use solar-powered sensors to measure water levels in real time, analyze risk at the village level, and issue alerts via LINE. They are currently installed as a pilot at 35 locations in 4 northern provinces and are set to expand to 6 provinces, with a target of covering more than 15,000 households. The response phase includes a rescue drone fleet that uses thermal cameras to locate victims around the clock, along with drones that deliver food, medicine, and drinking water with a maximum payload of 50 kilograms, targeting assistance for 1,000 households. There are also portable emergency oxygen canisters for asthma and heart disease patients in areas that ambulances cannot easily reach, and Gatti Bag and Gatti Box survival kits for pets that can support pet care in evacuation centers for up to 7 days. In the recovery phase after the waters recede, there is school furniture made from water-resistant recycled plastic, set to be piloted at 3 to 5 schools in Bangkok, covering more than 2,000 to 3,500 students and staff, as well as AGENT 29 nano-copper spray to eliminate and prevent mold after flooding, targeting more than 1,000 households and 150 agencies, and Clear Soil, a microbial agricultural soil restoration product that helps land return to cultivation in about 1 month, with deliveries beginning in Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, and Songkhla, targeting assistance for 2,000 households. Professor Dr. Yoschanan said that water masses from the North are still flowing gradually into the Central and Eastern regions and must be monitored, alongside preparations to restore areas after the waters recede, especially the problems of mold and damage to agricultural land. He noted that the research has already been published academically, and the ministry is ready to let the private sector receive technology transfers to increase production capacity and expand the use of the innovations so they reach the public more widely.
Chadchart Defends Bueng Khu Bon-Bang Chan Projects as Academically Sound After Higher Cost Than Canal Option Found
Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt explained that the Bueng Khu Bon and Bueng Bang Chan projects are studies by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration that apply the monkey cheek concept, not projects directly stemming from royal initiatives. He confirmed that the consideration was based on academic data, drainage efficiency, budget value, and public benefit. After the major flood in 2011, the Drainage Department studied approaches for creating six water retention ponds, with four projects previously halted after public consultation processes. Bueng Khu Bon and Bueng Bang Chan remained as the two projects under continued consideration. But upon reviewing the details, the investment amounts were found to be high, so they had to be compared with other approaches. According to the consultant team's study, the system-wide monkey cheek approach would cost about 11 billion baht, while the approach of improving canals and the drainage system would cost about 6.7 billion baht. The BMA therefore considered improving canals to convey water faster, alongside enhancing the efficiency of Bueng Nong Bon and the drainage tunnel system. On the issue of connections with a real estate company, Chadchart stated that he had previously served as an executive of Quality Houses Public Company Limited, which had filed an objection to a project in the Phatthanakan area through the process prescribed by law. But decisions about the project are the authority of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, and the cancellation of the project occurred during the term of a previous Bangkok governor, while he did not hold the position at that time. As for water management principles, an effective monkey cheek must have water retention areas, water intake systems, and appropriate water discharge systems. Bueng Khu Bon and Bueng Bang Chan have a combined capacity of about 1 million cubic meters, while the volume of rainwater in Bangkok is large and spread across many areas, so the entire drainage system must be considered, not just increasing water storage areas alone. Chadchart stressed that the BMA is ready to listen to additional information from all parties. If there is new information, technical proposals, or facts that differ from the data currently used in its consideration, the Drainage Department is ready to examine and review them carefully.
QH.BK · Regulation · Neutral Mentioned only as the real estate company that filed a legal objection to a Phatthanakan-area project; the governor notes the project's cancellation occurred under a previous governor, so no clear impact on Quality Houses.
Government warns of heavy rain October 7-13, northern water levels begin to ease
Ms. Lalida Peritswiwattana, deputy spokesperson for the Prime Minister's Office, disclosed that flood conditions in Chai Nat, Sing Buri, Ang Thong, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, and Suphan Buri have begun to recede, while Chon Buri and Phanat Nikhom are trending better. However, the western region still requires vigilance, especially Ratchaburi, Kanchanaburi, and Samut Songkhram, because rainfall is expected to increase from October 10 to 12, 2026. In Pathum Thani, drainage remains slow and some water is flowing in from the Ongkharak area, and Chachoengsao and Prachin Buri also need to be monitored. As for water from the northern region, today the volume measured at Nakhon Sawan was 1,915 cubic meters per second, while the Chao Phraya Dam is releasing water at 2,500 cubic meters per second, and in the afternoon it will begin reducing the release to 2,400 cubic meters per second, stepping down by 20 cubic meters per second per hour. Mr. Thawatchai Traiwari, director of the Water Situation Analysis Division of the Royal Irrigation Department, disclosed that the Sirikit Dam and the Bhumibol Dam can still hold water, so the lower areas are not affected, and the reduced releases will lower water levels by another 10 to 25 centimeters. In the Mae Klong basin, the Mae Klong Dam is releasing about 1,100 cubic meters per second, an increase from yesterday, causing water levels in Kanchanaburi, Ratchaburi, and Samut Sakhon to rise by about 40 to 50 centimeters from yesterday. The Kaeng Krachan Dam is releasing about 10 million cubic meters per day, and the Phet Dam has an inflow of 160 cubic meters per second against a capacity of 320 cubic meters per second. Mr. Parinya Chantakup, director of the Water Quality Management Technical Division of the Bangkok Drainage Office, disclosed that over the past 24 hours rain has continued to fall across Bangkok, causing high flooding on Chalong Krung Road, Suwinthawong Road, and Lat Krabang Road, with more than 56,000 people having registered for assistance through the claim.bangkok.go.th system, mostly in the Lat Krabang, Bang Kapi, and Sai Mai areas.
Bangkok on flood alert as water levels run high, draining canals ahead of rain on 10-13 October, eastern districts seen as vulnerable
Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt said the overall water situation in Bangkok remains at a high, fragile level, especially in the eastern districts, where water is still accumulating and more is flowing in from Lat Krabang and Chachoengsao province. Prawet Burirom canal is still draining slowly, and Bang Kapi and Lat Phrao must remain under close watch because water levels in the canal system are high. Although Bangkok can normally absorb about 60 to 70 millimetres of rain, water-retention areas and canals are currently at high levels, so heavy rain of that volume could cause overflow and flash flooding faster than usual. He urged residents in at-risk areas not to bring back down belongings they have moved to higher ground until the situation eases. Bangkok will speed up draining water from canals and monkey-cheek retention areas as much as possible, while inspecting and repairing pumps that have been working hard and moving pumps from areas where the situation has eased to support areas still in trouble. Chadchart said rainfall is likely to increase from 10 to 13 October 2026, so the weather must be monitored closely and the drainage system kept ready, especially during the period when Bangkok is hosting the IMF-World Bank meetings. He said the city will make its warnings more detailed by focusing on event-based alerts and is developing a model to analyse at-risk areas. In areas still affected, especially Nong Chok, Bangkok is mobilising resources to provide food and essential supplies, medical care, and the installation and operation of pumps to speed up drainage. Chadchart said Bangkok is not the only area affected, as surrounding areas and nearby provinces such as Chachoengsao, Pathum Thani and Samut Prakan also still have water in many places, so resources will be rushed to the hardest-hit spots.
Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking raises 2026 GDP forecast to 2.1-2.5% growth, exports up 12-16%
The Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking has revised up its forecast range for the Thai economy in 2026, expecting gross domestic product to expand 2.1-2.5%, up from the previous range of 1.6-2.0%, and raised its export growth forecast to 12-16% from 8-10%. Inflation is kept at the previous forecast range of 2.5-3.0%. In 2025, the Thai economy grew 2.4%, exports expanded 12.9%, and inflation stood at -0.1%. The meeting also monitored risks to the Thai economy, including the price of Brent crude, which rose from 95 US dollars per barrel in September to 102 US dollars per barrel, and the yield on 30-year US government bonds, which touched 5%, a level the meeting described as the highest in 20 years. The committee views natural disasters as becoming a structural risk to the Thai economy, with the public sector having to spend an average of 50,000-60,000 million baht per year to remedy the damage. Meanwhile, the current flooding situation is affecting the agricultural sector, industrial production, especially the automotive industry, and supply chains in the central and eastern regions, as well as the tourism sector. The committee is therefore preparing to send a letter to the Prime Minister to push the public sector to accelerate preparations for flood response, and proposes that private-sector representatives join as subcommittee members on all three water management subcommittees of the National Water Resources Office. The meeting also resolved to set up an ad hoc working group to assess the impact of the floods and draft recovery proposals.
Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking sets up ad-hoc task force on floods, urges government to include private-sector representatives on national water board
The Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking is preparing a letter to the prime minister to press the government to speed up consideration of flood preparedness measures, and is proposing that private-sector representatives be appointed to the National Water Resources Committee and to all three of its water-management subcommittees: the subcommittee driving the water management master plan and key projects, the subcommittee directing water resource management, and the subcommittee developing innovation criteria for water resource management under the Office of the National Water Resources. Poj Aramwattananont, chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce and chair of the joint committee's meeting, said the committee resolved to set up an ad-hoc task force to assess the impact of flooding and to draft proposals on preparedness and recovery, in order to draw up an integrated plan for managing water across the entire system, while supporting assistance to those affected and accelerating the recovery of economic activity in concrete terms. The joint committee views natural disasters as becoming a structural risk to the Thai economy, with the government having to spend an average of 50 to 60 billion baht a year to remedy damage from natural disasters. Panithan Pavoralarnwittaya, secretary-general of the Federation of Thai Industries, estimated that damage to industrial plants from this year's floods already totals about 6 billion baht and could rise further, especially at auto-parts plants forced to halt production temporarily. If the problem is not resolved by October 12, it will begin to affect the automotive industry, because parts cannot be delivered for vehicle assembly.
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