Pak Hai Residents Caught Off Guard by Rapid Floodwaters

Residents of Pak Hai in Ayutthaya say they believed assurances from authorities that flooding would not occur this year, only to be caught off guard when water levels rose by nearly one meter daily, leaving families unable to evacuate belongings in time. Hasanai, 51, a resident of Moo 1, Ta Din Daeng Subdistrict, said the area is chronically flood-prone and residents normally prepare each rainy season, but this year water rose far faster than expected. He recalled seeing official announcements stating that flooding would not occur this year, and the slower-than-usual water rise in previous weeks had given him and others confidence that the floods might not be severe. However, water levels jumped from the typical 10-20 centimeters per day to nearly one meter daily, forcing residents to scramble to move belongings to higher ground. Hasanai emphasized that residents do not want compensation payments—they want to avoid flooding altogether, as the costs of home repairs, cleanup, and lost income from being unable to work far outweigh any financial relief offered. Paweena Thongskulpan, director of the Ayutthaya Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office, reported that six districts in the province are now affected, including Pak Hai, impacting 5,835 households across 52 subdistricts and 285 villages. The Chao Phraya dam is currently releasing water at 1,750 cubic meters per second, with water levels expected to rise further and affect more areas.