High tides and river overflow flood Samut Songkhram as authorities plan water pushers at 8 sites
Four water pushers are installed in Samut Songkhram and 21 more are being requested as Mae Klong Dam releases prompt warnings for three provinces
- Flooding in Samut Songkhram's Amphawa and Bang Khonthi districts is being caused by a combination of high tides and overflowing rivers.
- The river overflow is exacerbated by a significant water discharge from the Mae Klong Dam, prompting warnings for residents to move belongings to higher ground.
- In response, the Royal Irrigation Department is installing water-pushing machines at eight canal sites to accelerate the drainage of floodwater into the Gulf of Thailand.
Royal Irrigation Department (RID) set out an eight-site plan on October 3, 2026 to deploy water-pushing machines in Samut Songkhram as high tides compound flooding. Overflowing waterways have inundated homes and temples in Amphawa and Bang Khonthi districts.
Four water pushers installed in Amphawa
Regional Irrigation Office 13 has installed four water-pushing machines at the Wat Pak Nam landing on Khwae Om Canal in Amphawa district, according to its deployment update.
Regional Irrigation Office 13 is coordinating with the RID’s machinery bureau to obtain another 21 units for installation at seven other canal locations:
- Mae Klong Canal
- Phi Lok Canal
- Amphawa Canal
- Thong Lang–Bang Noi Canal
- Damnoen Saduak Canal
- Bang Khae Canal
- Pracha Chom Chuen Canal
The RID’s deployment is intended to move accumulated floodwater out of inland areas towards the Gulf and the open sea more quickly, reducing the impact of high tides on homes in low-lying communities.
Mae Klong Dam discharge prompts warnings for three provinces
Mae Klong Dam’s water management operations centre reported a downstream discharge of 1,496 cubic metres per second at 10am on October 3.
Mae Klong Dam’s water management operations centre urged residents along both banks of the Mae Klong River and in low-lying areas to “move belongings to higher ground” to protect lives and property, highlighting three provinces:
- Kanchanaburi
- Ratchaburi
- Samut Songkhram
The latest warning for communities below Mae Klong Dam follows earlier alerts about rising river levels.
Drone survey finds flooding in Amphawa and Bang Khonthi
The Samut Songkhram rescue unit of the Sapparachen Foundation used drones on October 2 to survey water levels, flow routes and affected locations in Amphawa and Bang Khonthi. The survey found water overflowing into homes along local sois and damage to riverside temples and religious sites.
Sapparachen Foundation rescue teams were reviewing emergency response plans and preparing to assist flood-affected residents around the clock.
Anutin orders faster relief across three river basins
Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul directed provincial governors, provincial administrative organisations and operational agencies to strengthen their emergency response and accelerate assistance to flood victims during a national videoconference on the morning of October 3.
Anutin chaired the National Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Command meeting in his capacity as national disaster prevention and mitigation commander. The meeting reviewed water conditions, flood impacts and water management in the Chao Phraya, Mae Klong and Tha Chin river basins.
Samut Songkhram Governor Chayachai Saeng-in chaired the provincial session of the national flood-response videoconference from the provincial disaster prevention and mitigation office’s meeting room on the fourth floor of the provincial hall.
Samut Songkhram’s delegation at the national flood-response meeting included Jetsada Yanapraphasiri, president of the Samut Songkhram Provincial Administrative Organization (PAO), and Kittiya Manisawang, PAO’s deputy chief administrator.
