Heavy rain floods Highway 331 and Pattaya roads across Chonburi
Flooding hit Highway 331 in Si Racha early Thursday after overnight rain swamped Pattaya roads, with water reaching up to 1 metre.
- Heavy overnight rain has caused significant flooding across the Chonburi province, submerging sections of Highway 331 and numerous roads in Pattaya.
- Floodwater reached depths of up to one metre in some areas, causing severe traffic congestion and making roads impassable for smaller vehicles.
- The flooding stalled cars and motorcycles, damaged residents' property, and required officials to be deployed to assist motorists.
- The Thai Meteorological Department has forecast more heavy rain for the region, warning of a continued risk of flash floods.
Heavy rain continued to affect Chonburi on Thursday morning (September 24), with sections of Highway 331 in Si Racha submerged by dawn following an overnight downpour that inundated Pattaya.
By 5.47am, floodwater covered all traffic lanes on Highway 331 towards Laem Chabang in Nong Kham subdistrict, Si Racha district, stretching from the flyover in front of Pinthong Industrial Estate 1 to beneath the Nong Kham interchange.
At 7.30am, water remained high and traffic was backed up for several kilometres. Small cars and motorcycles were warned not to enter the flooded section because of the risk of their engines stalling in deep water.
Pattaya flooded overnight
Earlier, more than an hour of thunderstorms caused widespread flooding across Pattaya in Bang Lamung district.
At about 1.26am, water rose rapidly on several roads, reaching around 50 centimetres in many locations and as much as 1 metre in some of the city's recurring flood-prone areas.
Among the affected locations were Pattaya Third Road near the Phaniat Chang intersection, the railway-side road around Khao Noi and Khao Talo, Sukhumvit Road in South Pattaya, South Pattaya Road, Central Pattaya Road, Beach Road, Soi Buakhao and Soi Wat Boon Samphan.
Rain continued to fall as water accumulated, leaving several roads impassable to motorcycles and small cars. Some roadside shops and residents were unable to move their belongings before floodwater reached their properties.
Parked motorcycles were knocked over by floodwater, while household items, rubbish and other debris were carried along the streets, becoming lodged against walls, utility poles and parked vehicles.
Pattaya City officials were deployed to flooded locations to assist road users and warn motorists, while residents helped move motorcycles and belongings to higher ground during the downpour.
Some motorists attempted to drive through flooded sections, leaving motorcycles and small cars stalled and, in some cases, damaged after floodwater entered their engines. Passengers in some vehicles had to climb out after becoming stranded.
In the deepest areas, some people had to wade through water almost at chest level to reach safer ground.
More heavy rain forecast
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) forecast very heavy rain for parts of Chonburi, Nakhon Nayok, Prachin Buri, Sa Kaeo, Chachoengsao, Rayong, Chanthaburi and Trat on Thursday.
Its latest warning states that heavy to very heavy rain will affect several parts of Thailand from September 24-27 as an active low-pressure system moves from Cambodia towards the lower Northeast, the East and the Central region.
The TMD has urged people in areas experiencing heavy and prolonged rainfall to remain alert for flash floods and run-off, particularly near waterways, foothills and low-lying areas, with heavy to very heavy rain expected to continue through September 27.
