Alligator Fish Escape Flooded Pond in Chachoengsao
More than 300 large alligator fish escaped from a flooded pond at Bung Samran fish farm in Chachoengsao after heavy rains inundated the area. Only about 40–50 have been recaptured, while the owner reports severe damage to the facility and ongoing costs to run aeration equipment. Authorities are being urged to open floodgates to drain the water and prevent further ecological and health risks.
Inspectors found floodwaters covering the entire entrance area, with water about 30 centimeters deep on walkways. Guest bungalows, restaurants, and reception rooms were completely submerged. The large fishing pond had aeration machines running continuously to maintain oxygen levels amid the pervasive flood. Owner Ngern Euauchom, 69, said the flood inflicted heavy damage, preventing normal operation of accommodations, bungalows, and the resort; all equipment inside buildings was affected, resulting in no income, yet he continues to pay salaries for nearly a hundred employees and provides three meals a day as they remain on-site to guard the property, with some developing foot infections from prolonged water exposure.
Regarding the escaped fish, Ngern explained that during the first three hours of the flood surge, the farmed fish, including the stock of alligator fish, were swept away with the current, amounting to an estimated 20–30 tons. The alligator fish, which had been raised for 17–18 years and measure 2–3 meters in length, are believed to have mostly escaped—nearly all 300 of them. Villagers have managed to recapture and return about 40–50 of the fish; the remainder are thought to have drifted into the canal fronting the property.
Ngern added that water cannot be pumped out because the surrounding canals are at similar levels, leaving no area to discharge the water; they must wait for canal levels to recede before drainage can begin. Meanwhile, about 30 aeration and oxygenation machines must run 24 hours a day to preserve water quality and prevent harm to the remaining fish, as nearby farmland water has begun to stagnate and smell foul, with some seeping into the Bung Samran area, increasing electricity costs despite the lack of business income.
He appealed to relevant agencies, especially the Irrigation Department, to expedite drainage solutions and consider opening additional floodgates to reduce water levels that have persisted for nearly four weeks, in order to alleviate suffering for residents and businesses facing severe losses.
Finally, authorities advise the public to avoid fishing in areas where the escaped fish may be present and not to consume any caught fish without knowing its species or source, particularly the eggs of alligator fish, which are reported to be toxic. They recommend awaiting guidance from fisheries officials on inspection and management of the displaced fish to ensure public safety and protect the ecosystem.
