Chanthaburi Lowers Flood Flag to Yellow, Police Hunt Cable Thieves

On September 30, 2025, at 1:00 PM, officials at Wat Chanthararam Bridge in Chanthaburi switched the flood warning flag from red to yellow after water levels in the city center continued to drop, signaling that many areas had returned to normal. The Irrigation Department operated drainage pumps at full capacity at the Klok Phakdee Rampha sluice gates and the Khom Ngong Dam in Tha Mai District, facilitating smooth water outflow. Meanwhile, the Chanthaburi Incident Command Center reported that while water levels have fallen in many localities and some spots are back to normal, six districts — Kaeng Hang Maew, Na Yai Am, Khao Khitchakut, Makham, Tha Mai, and Mueang Chanthaburi — still have standing water in low‑lying areas along the Chanthaburi River, with the Wat Chanthararam gauge showing water 0.47 meters below the bank. The Public Safety Office lowered the alert level, changing the flag from red to yellow at 11:00 PM to urge continued vigilance. In addition to flooding, strong currents have eroded Highway Sukhumvit between Na Yai Am and Ban Siw, damaging bridge approaches and embankments; the Chanthaburi Highway Office is constructing a detour to restore traffic. Pumping at Klok Phakdee Rampha canal ceased after inner‑city water levels began dropping on September 29, but earlier the drainage system had been sabotaged when unknown individuals cut the power cables controlling the pumps, impairing operations during the crisis and delaying drainage. Authorities have filed a complaint with Chanthaburi City Police; investigators are reviewing CCTV footage along the canal and tracking copper‑cable theft gangs in the vicinity to apprehend the suspects swiftly, noting that the theft exacerbated residents’ hardships during the flood.