PATTAYA, Thailand – Pattaya City has placed nine flood-prone areas under 24-hour surveillance as the city prepares for heavy rain forecast from September 24-27, with residents able to call 1337 for updates and sandbags to help protect their homes. Pattaya Mayor Poramet Ngampichet said the city has assigned officials from the Sanitation Engineering Office and the Water Crisis Center to closely monitor conditions, particularly in areas that repeatedly experience flooding after heavy rainfall.
Three locations are considered especially vulnerable: the railway road intersection near Khao Talo, Sukhumvit Road in South Pattaya, and Pattaya Third Road near the Moom Aroi restaurant intersection. These locations are low-lying areas where prolonged heavy rain can quickly leave water waiting to drain. Officials will be stationed at the sites and may block traffic if water levels become unsafe, helping prevent accidents and damage to vehicles.
Poramet said Pattaya’s existing drainage system can handle around 60-70 millimeters of rainfall per day. When rainfall exceeds that level, standing floodwater may occur. Rainfall of around 100-120 millimeters could require approximately one to three hours for the water to drain, depending on conditions and location. During the current watch period, officials will remain on duty around the clock to speed up drainage and assist residents. The city is also asking people to keep rubbish away from drains and grilles around their homes, as blocked drainage points can further slow the movement of floodwater.
Residents living in low-lying areas or concerned about water entering their homes can call the Pattaya City hotline on 1337 for information and to coordinate requests for sandbags. Residents can also follow updates through Pattaya City’s official public-relations channels and use Pattaya Connect to check city camera images, traffic conditions and water levels before deciding whether roads are safe to use after rainfall.
Looking further ahead, Pattaya has plans for a major drainage pipe and tunnel project around South Pattaya Road designed to improve drainage capacity across North Pattaya, Central Pattaya, South Pattaya and Thepprasit areas. The planned system is intended to handle rainfall of up to around 130 millimeters, but the project is expected to take another four years to complete. Until then, Pattaya is relying on round-the-clock monitoring, rapid drainage operations and emergency assistance to limit the impact of heavy rain and flooding.
