Authorities Warn of Rising Water Levels in Chao Phraya Basin
Authorities have warned that rising water releases from the Chao Phraya Dam could raise levels in low‑lying areas outside embankments by up to 0.70 meters across ten provinces and Bangkok. The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation urged residents to monitor water, prepare for possible flooding, and follow updates via official channels. No impact is expected for communities inside the embankments.
On October 2, 2026, the Director-General of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, Nirut PhongsiThitaworn, said the agency received notice from the Irrigation Department regarding the Chao Phraya River water situation (notice No. 7). At station C.2 in Mueang Nakhon Sawan, Nakhon Sawan province, water flow is expected to peak at about 3,010 cubic meters per second, with additional inflow from tributaries raising water above the Chao Phraya Dam. Consequently, the dam will discharge water downstream at a rate of 2,200 to 2,500 cubic meters per second, likely increasing water levels in low-lying areas outside the embankments by 0.40 to 0.70 meters. Areas requiring attention include districts in Ayutthaya, Ang Thong, Sing Buri, Chai Nat, and other provinces listed in the notice. The warning states that communities inside the embankments will not be affected. The Department’s central command has coordinated with the ten provinces of Uthai Thani, Chai Nat, Sing Buri, Ang Thong, Suphan Buri, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Lop Buri, Pathum Thani, Nonthaburi, and Samut Prakan, plus Bangkok, to monitor the situation closely. It has also alerted residents and businesses along the Chao Phraya and Noi rivers, especially those in low‑lying areas outside the embankments, to prepare for higher water. Disaster prevention centers in Region 1 (Pathum Thani), Region 2 (Suphan Buri), and Region 16 (Chai Nat) are instructed to maintain 24‑hour monitoring, prepare personnel, disaster‑relief machinery, operational vehicles, and Emergency Response Teams ready to deploy if conditions worsen, including setting up temporary shelters and providing public assistance. For Bangkok, the command has urged relevant agencies, riverside businesses, and residents to track water levels and prepare. The public is advised to follow updates, move belongings to higher ground, and give special care to children, the elderly, the sick, and other vulnerable groups. Warnings can be accessed through the THAI DISASTER ALERT app, via LINE at “DDPM receives reports 1784”, or by calling the hotline 1784, available 24‑hours a day.
