PATTAYA, Thailand – Severe flooding hit three communities in Banglamung on September 26 after the Banglamung Canal overflowed following heavy rain and high tides, inundating around 185 homes and forcing residents to evacuate.
Floodwater began entering homes late on September 25 as water levels in the canal, which drains towards the Gulf of Thailand, rose sharply while seawater pushed back into the drainage system.
By noon on September 26, three major communities had been affected. Around 50 homes in Tha Kradan, Moo 4, Banglamung subdistrict, were flooded, along with about 20 homes in Nong Sadao, Moo 8, and approximately 115 homes in Ban Thung Krat–Nong Manao, also in Moo 8.
Water reached around 1.5 meters in some areas, while roads were covered by approximately 1 meter of water. Several residents suffered property damage after floodwater arrived so quickly that they were unable to move belongings to safety. Rescue teams from the Sawang Boriboon deployed flat-bottomed boats from the early morning to evacuate elderly residents, patients and other people from flooded homes.
Evacuees were taken to a temporary shelter at the Ban Thung Krat community hall, which was prepared by Laem Chabang City Municipality. Officials delivered food, drinking water and medicine to affected residents and distributed more than 1,000 sandbags to help reduce water entering homes.
By 2 p.m., water levels had begun to fall as the tide receded, although the situation had not yet returned to normal. Officials warned that further rain combined with another high tide could cause water levels to rise again. Authorities and rescue teams continued monitoring the area around the clock. Residents of Nong Manao told reporters they had lived in the community for more than 30 years and had never experienced flooding of this severity. They said the water arrived exceptionally quickly, leaving little time to move their belongings to safety.
