Mekong River Floods Thai-Lao Market, 2cm From Crisis Level

As of 6 a.m. on August 12, 2025, the Mekong River at Nakhon Phanom's hydrological station measured 11.98 meters—up 15 centimeters from the previous day and just 2 centimeters short of critical level, expected to be reached this afternoon. The municipality has shut all four automatic drainage gates to block backflow that could inundate the city. Water pouring from Bueng Kham province and Laos has overwhelmed agricultural land in Ban Klang district, roughly 28 kilometers from town, flooding over 100 rai of banana, bamboo, and fragrant coconut plantations to depths of one meter and submerging a concrete road for more than three kilometers.

The overflow at the temporary market relaxation zone and OTOP building caused garbage bins, plastic water containers, and vendor tables to float away; traders scrambled to lash down remaining goods. Dawsuwan, 59, grows Deng bamboo shoots across three plots totaling over 30 rai, home to some 200 plants. Since August 9, rapid flooding inundated two plots to a depth of one meter; she normally supplies 50 kilograms daily to city markets but received an order for 2,000 kilograms today—a demand her remaining unaflooded plot may not meet, risking substantial income loss.

Buenchareun Prombut, 67, village headman of Ban Klang, attributed the flooding to rapid upstream flows and heavy local rain, which caused the Mekong to overflow steadily over two to three days, reaching depths of one to 1.5 meters in places. Lao merchants from across the border, who normally trade forest goods such as rodents, squirrels, mushrooms, and insects, now find the Lao side equally flooded; goods left in the market buildings drift on the water awaiting recovery by boat.

In Si Songkhram district, the Songkhram River began overflowing on the afternoon of August 11, particularly at Tha Bo Songkhram and Pak Un villages, flooding eight to ten riverside homes with water depth averaging 50 centimeters to one meter. Sub-district officer Kornkarn Kaewdee led health workers, village leaders, and flat-bottomed boats to deliver emergency supplies and comfort victims, with emphasis on waterborne disease prevention for the elderly, children, and those requiring special care until conditions return to normal.

Niwat Cheawiribun, Nakhon Phanom municipal mayor, reported that Mekong levels continue rising steadily. The four automatic pumping stations along the east bank—at Tesapradit Road, Samutbannharn Road, Post Office Junction, and Wat Phi Sri—which normally drain water into the Mekong, have reached capacity. All four drainage gates have been ordered closed. The municipality will deploy long-range pumps and over ten large mobile pumping units from Region 7 Waterworks Authority (Sakon Nakhon) stationed at key points and along the riverbank, ready to accelerate water discharge into the Mekong if heavy rain or backflow threatens the town.