Flash flooding strikes Phetchabun for third time as heavy rains continue; conditions expected to normalize if rainfall ceases tonight
Flash flooding surged through Phetchabun's Ban Tok subdistrict for the third time in a week, sweeping away motorcycles and temporarily closing a major highway as heavy rains continue across the mountainous region.
Phetchabun province experiences third flash flood surge, waters overflow Saraburi-Lom Sak highway following sustained heavy rainfall; strong currents sweep away motorcycles
On May 20, 2025, heavy rains continued to pummel Muang district in Phetchabun province, particularly in the mountainous regions of Ban Tok and Pa Lao subdistricts. By 5:00 p.m., flash floods surged through San Ta Phia canal, breaching its banks and inundating homes in villages 2 and 7 of Ban Tok subdistrict for the third time. The first flooding occurred on May 13, the second on May 19, and this third occurrence brought significantly larger water volumes than the previous two.
Floodwaters submerged homes along the canal banks and in low-lying areas, with water depths reaching approximately one meter in some spots. The water flowed across village roads, and because most homes sit on elevated ground above street level, the roads transformed into temporary waterways with dangerously strong currents in certain areas—particularly in village 7 of Ban Tok, where the force of the water swept away villagers' motorcycles.
The Rom Phot Phetchabun volunteer foundation deployed flat-bottomed boats to transport residents moving between homes and to evacuate patients from isolated houses situated in low areas. Officials worried that additional heavy rain could pose serious dangers. With large water volumes and inadequate narrow drainage channels, floodwaters spilled onto the Saraburi-Lom Sak highway leading into Phetchabun town for a distance of 200 meters.
Authorities restricted traffic to a single lane and managed slow movement to prevent accidents. As the skies cleared and no additional rain fell, conditions improved steadily. Within approximately one hour, water levels on the highway receded enough to restore normal traffic. Floodwaters in the villages continued to subside, and officials expect that if no further rain falls tonight, conditions should return to normal by midnight.
