Severe Flooding Strikes Prachinburi, One Dead, Thousands Affected

On September 30, 2024, reporters said that at 9:50 p.m. on September 29, Prachinburi experienced its worst flooding of the year after runoff from forested areas combined with the Prachinburi River overflowing its banks, inundating all seven districts. The disaster impacted 39,977 households, caused one fatality and two injuries, and forced Prachinburi Chao Phraya Abhaibhubejhr Hospital to suspend outpatient services and transfer critical (red‑code) patients to Camp Jakarapong Hospital. Water rose rapidly, encircling the hospital from all sides and blocking even small vehicles. Hospital staff relocated doctors, nurses, pharmacists and nutritionists to the camp hospital, while mild (green‑code) patients were either sent home or to temporary shelters if their homes were flooded. Backup plans to use a Robinson department store as an auxiliary clinic were abandoned after floodwaters reached that site as well. Officials built earthen barriers using 200‑liter fuel drums filled with water, sandbags and pumps to drain the hospital grounds. Prachinburi Provincial Administration Organization moved its dialysis center to the provincial transport office to maintain treatment for chronic kidney‑failure patients. The Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Center reported flooding across 7 districts, 61 sub‑districts, 625 villages and 20 communities, with household impacts ranging from 15,597 in Mueang Prachinburi to 466 in Si Mahaphot. Agricultural damage totaled 42,404 rai, affecting 3,773 farmers, mainly rice paddies. Water levels on September 29 were recorded at 11.95 m at Kgt.3 (Kabin Buri), 8.16 m at Kgt.6 (Si Mahaphot) — 1.55 m above the banks — and 4.75 m at Kgt.1 (Mueang Prachinburi) — 0.62 m above the banks. Major routes such as Highway 33 (Phrachantakam–Kabin Buri) and Highway 304 (Lat Takhian–Kabin Buri) remained impassable for small vehicles.