PHETCHABUN – The northern Thailand province of Phetchabun is dealing with its most serious flooding in over ten years, after the Pasak River has spilled over its banks after days of heavy rain brought by what remains of Tropical Storm Nongfa.
Floodwaters have swept through homes, disrupted daily life, and forced hundreds of people from their houses, especially along riverbanks in Lom Sak, Lom Kao, and Nam Nao districts. Local officials have shut schools without a set date to reopen and are racing to get help to those in need.
The trouble in Phetchabun started late on August 30, 2025, when heavy rain from the weakening storm settled across the area. In Lom Sak, both the Pasak and Pung rivers, filled after days of rain, overran their one-metre-high barriers. Water up to a metre deep flowed into the town centre, government buildings, fresh markets, and 11 different neighbourhoods.
Rapid currents made rescue work difficult. Lom Kao’s district chief, Pornpong Chanchaipakrathakun, described the conditions in Tatkloi and Sila as the worst in a decade. Six villages there suffered serious flooding, with damage estimated at around 100 million baht.
Flooding in Phetchabun
Rescue teams continue to focus on moving those most at risk, like children, elderly people, and bedridden patients. Lom Sak’s district chief, Pakpoom Pumee, said staff are working without pause to move residents to safer ground.
Some people have taken shelter in temporary camps, while others are staying with relatives. Fast-moving water has made boat rescues tough, but teams from the military and volunteer groups are working together to reach homes that remain cut off.
So far, about 500 households have been hit by the flooding, and work to drain water and remove debris is ongoing.
Five schools in Lom Sak have closed, adding more disruption for students and families. According to Pakpoom, floodwaters have damaged school buildings, making them unsafe, but he hopes things could improve when the weather clears. The Thai Meteorological Department still warns of more heavy rainfall in northern Thailand, making officials worry about more flooding ahead.
Heavy Rainfall in Northern Thailand
What’s happening in Phetchabun is part of a bigger emergency covering much of northern Thailand. Since mid-August, Nan, Chiang Rai, and Chiang Mai have all faced dangerous floods.
Nan province saw the Nan River rise above its banks, flooding Muang and Phu Phiang districts, with entire communities like Nai Wiang, Du Tai, and Kong Khwai forced to leave their homes.
In Chiang Klang alone, rainfall reached 285.4 millimetres. Wiang Sa and Chiang Klang hospitals kept running despite being surrounded by water. Emergency teams evacuated 844 patients from risky hospitals, assisted by military vehicles.
Chiang Rai has seen some of its worst flooding in decades, mainly in the Mae Sai district. On July 28, 2025, the Sai River overflowed, flooding places like Sai Lom Joy Market. Some areas had water up to a metre deep. Many residents climbed onto rooftops or upper floors to escape rising waters.
Navy SEALs and helicopters were used to deliver aid and get people out of danger, including 200 children trapped at a local school. Flooding here grew worse after Typhoon Yagi in early September 2024. The floods claimed four lives and affected over 43,000 families, leaving behind thick mud that is proving slow to clear.
Widespread Flooding
In Chiang Mai, the Ping River hit its highest point on October 4, 2024, flooding the city’s centre. Residents and tourists had to be evacuated, with three people losing their lives, including a man electrocuted and a woman killed by a mudslide.
Dozens of shelters are open for those who have lost their homes, and local teams are pumping out water. The provincial irrigation office expects water levels to drop soon, but the city is still on high alert.
Nationwide, flooding since August 2024 has spread to 44 provinces and affected almost 800,000 people throughout Thailand. The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) has confirmed 52 deaths and 28 injuries as of October 11, 2024.
Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, Phayao, and Phitsanulok are among the most affected areas. The government has set aside a 20-billion-baht budget for repairs and plans to take action both quickly and over the longer term in zones like Mae Sai and Chiang Mai.
Experts are urging better planning in urban areas and closer cooperation with Myanmar to prevent further disasters on this scale. Thanapon Piman from the Stockholm Environment Institute says building too close to rivers, such as the Mae Sai, has made floods worse.
Pianporn Deetes of the International Rivers Network believes keeping wetlands and using nature itself to manage water is just as important.
As more rain threatens Phetchabun and the surrounding provinces, local people face a long clean-up. Somchai Rattanachai, who runs a shop in Lom Sak, said this is the worst flood he has ever seen. His business is completely underwater.
He said residents need help to get back on their feet, but also want action to stop floods of this scale in future. For now, the main focus stays on rescue work and urgent relief during a crisis that many in northern Thailand will remember for years to come.
