Floodwaters Inundate Chachoengsao Town After High Tide

The flooding in Chachoengsao worsened after a high tide combined with heavy upstream flow from the north. Residents described scrambling to move possessions as water rose, with one household losing a refrigerator and another burning out five diesel pumps while trying to pump water out of their home. By evening on October 11, 2026, journalists found the Bang Pakong River still rising after spilling into communities and multiple road points earlier in the day, driven by water flowing from Bang Kla, Khlong Khuean and Prachin Buri province together with the tidal surge. At approximately 19:00, officials closed one lane in front of Phutthasothor Hospital, erected sandbag barriers and positioned a large pump to prevent river water from reaching the hospital. The governor’s residence also showed flooding of its front lawn and adjacent roads. Key thoroughfares such as Sri Soethor New Cut, Na Mueang Road, Phanich (Soi Roi Mo), Maru Phong Riverside Road and Chumphon Road remained underwater along their entire lengths. In the Sothet Market, water entered the vending area, prompting sellers to close stalls earlier than normal and report a drop in customers. Market vendor Wirat, aged 60, noted that while seasonal water level fluctuations are normal, this year’s volume and prolonged height were exceptional, likely due to large upstream discharges. He urged authorities to improve drainage to the gulf, suggesting the serious use of push‑boats to accelerate outflow and reduce community impacts. Officials have recently begun deploying push‑boats in earnest after earlier attempts with other vessel types. Over the past two days, efforts to drain water from Khlong Khuean canal and increase pumping at the Ban Mai pumping station have only slightly raised water levels, particularly during the evening trading period, forcing vendors to shut down early. The lower section of the market remains unusable, while the upper level stays dry enough for limited trade. Normally by this time of year the water would have receded enough to allow regular commerce, but this year persistent flooding continues to distress traders. In the neighboring community of Tha Kham 1, Soi Muk Mu Kratha, water from the Bang Pakong River inundated the entire lane to a depth of about 60 centimeters, submerging every house; residents rushed to move belongings to higher ground, and some possessions have already suffered water damage. Resident Somporn, 54, living along the riverbank, said the current seawater surge exceeded anything previously seen, causing water to flow into homes and seep through any opening.