Thai Town Hit by 7th Flood in a Month

PHETCHABUN, Oct 1 (TNA) - Residents of Lom Sak municipality in Phetchabun province are grappling with unprecedented flooding, with some communities experiencing their seventh inundation in a single month, causing catastrophic damage and crippling local livelihoods.

In the low-lying Ubon Ruamchai community, floodwaters remain nearly one meter deep. Though a protective earthen wall runs along the Pasak River, breaches have allowed the river to flood the neighbourhood repeatedly.

Niwet Phalangsantikul, a resident showed reporters the devastation inside his home, where water still stands almost a meter high. Furniture, a refrigerator, a mattress, and all household items were destroyed, floating in the murky water. His parked car was half-submerged, and his motorbike and sidecar—which he uses to sell steamed buns—were ruined.

Niwet said the seven floods in one month have left him "financially ruined," unable to work and exhausted from a cycle of cleaning only for the water to return the next day.

"I have debts to pay, but I can't earn a living. My house is like this," Niwet said, his voice reflecting despair. "I am mentally broken; I don't know what to do. I can only accept it. It's very difficult. I will have to borrow money from friends and family to repair the house. The damage is worse than any previous flood."

Meanwhile, floodwaters have continued to submerge major commercial areas of Lom Sak Municipality throughout the morning, including the road stretching from the District Office to the Clock Tower roundabout and the municipal fresh market, where water levels hover above 20 centimetres.

Authorities expect the situation to ease soon if no further heavy rain falls in the upper catchment areas of the Pasak River. -819 (TNA)