Thailand Deploys 80 Boats to Speed Flood Drainage and Compensation

BANGKOK — 7 October 2026, Thailand’s Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) is mobilizing up to 80 water-pushing boats at the mouth of the Bang Pakong River to accelerate drainage from flood-hit Chachoengsao and Prachin Buri.

DDPM Director-General Nirut Phongsitthaworn said authorities would gather as many water-pushing boats as possible and deploy them at the river mouth, where officials believe they can have the greatest impact on moving floodwater out to sea.

The move follows concerns from residents in Prachin Buri and Chachoengsao that flooding could continue for months.

Nirut said the government was not ignoring the situation, with Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul ordering authorities to accelerate drainage in the Bang Pakong River basin. A meeting on 6 October involving Deputy Prime Minister Songsak Thongsri, Defense Minister Lt Gen Adul Boonthamcharoen and relevant agencies agreed that water should be pushed toward the Bang Pakong River as quickly as possible. Nirut said 40–50 boats could be deployed immediately, with the number expected to increase to around 80. Their operation would be coordinated with tidal conditions to maximize the rate of drainage. He said relying only on water-pushing operations upstream in Nakhon Nayok had been less effective because water continued flowing into Chachoengsao, while additional runoff from Prachin Buri and Sa Kaeo added to the volume.

Compensation payments to speed up Nirut said 10,400 households are currently eligible for flood compensation, with residents in Sa Kaeo, Samut Prakan and Krabi already beginning to receive payments. More than 100 million baht in compensation is expected to be paid on Thursday and Friday. He said DDPM and Government Savings Bank had also worked to shorten the payment process after the prime minister called for faster assistance. The system has been adjusted so that information submitted for compensation today can result in payment the following day, reducing the previous processing time by one day.

Khlong Chan flats not eligible under seven-day rule Nirut confirmed that residents of the Khlong Chan housing complex in Bangkok would not qualify for the current 5,000- or 9,000-baht flood compensation scheme if their homes do not meet the requirement that floodwater surround the property for at least seven days. He said the compensation approved by the Cabinet must follow specific eligibility criteria, while other forms of assistance could be available under Bangkok and DDPM regulations if applicants meet separate requirements. For people who are not homeowners, eligibility will depend on whether they are registered as tenants or homeowners under the relevant criteria. Nirut added that there is currently no specific compensation scheme for restaurant operators renting commercial premises, as the existing measure covers residential properties.