Tha Ruea Municipality in Ayutthaya has "raised a red flag" after the Pasak River rose to just 10 centimeters below overflowing at the fresh market. Vendors hurriedly moved their goods to escape the water. Residents agreed that the water came faster and rose more quickly than in previous years.
On 29 September 2026, flooding in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province began to have widespread effects, especially in communities along canals and rivers. Roads in riverside communities started to be cut off after the Chao Phraya Dam announced an increase in downstream water discharge to 1,950 cubic meters per second, combined with continuous rainfall. The impact expanded to 11 districts, 146 subdistricts, 881 villages, 35 communities, and 34,138 households, including Sena, Phak Hai, Bang Ban, Bang Sai, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Bang Pa-in, Bang Pahan, Lat Bua Luang, Nakhon Luang, Wang Noi, and Uthai districts, with one death reported in Sena district.
Reporters covering the flood situation in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province say the situation has worsened recently after the Rama VI Dam in Tha Luang Subdistrict, Tha Ruea District, increased discharge from the Pasak River downstream. This caused the Pasak River water level to rise continuously, affecting communities outside the flood barrier in Tha Ruea, Nakhon Luang, and Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya districts. Riverside communities along the Pasak River are especially rushing to prepare.
In front of Tha Ruea Municipality Office, adjacent to the Pasak River, officials have placed red flags to warn residents in riverside communities and areas outside the flood barrier to urgently move belongings and assets to higher ground. The water level is about 10 centimeters from overflowing and flooding the plaza in front of the municipality office. Meanwhile, locals have been arriving to monitor the situation and check water levels continuously.
Tha Ruea Municipality has prepared sandbags to reinforce flood defenses and arranged boats for residents within the municipal area affected by flooding to use for travel and moving belongings if water levels rise further.
At Tha Ruea fresh market, vendors are hurriedly moving goods and trade equipment out of the area after receiving flood warnings. The municipality has arranged temporary market spaces to accommodate sellers so they can continue selling their goods while the original market is affected by flooding.
Ms. Bee, a 38-year-old cooked food vendor at the market, said the flood situation has already impacted vendors. They were warned about the flood and had to quickly pack up and move goods out of the market starting yesterday because water levels were steadily rising.
Vendors said the area routinely experiences flooding every year, but this year the water level rose faster than usual, forcing them to quickly prepare and relocate goods temporarily to other areas such as Ko Loi Market to prevent damage to merchandise and equipment.
Mr. Wasan Kotchaprapa, 28, a vendor selling goods in front of his house near Tha Ruea market, said his house was the first affected. Initially, he did not move his belongings, thinking the rising water was just from normal rainfall. However, within two to three days, the canal water rose rapidly and overflowed into homes and residential areas, forcing him to quickly relocate assets and find temporary shelter.
Wasan added that after the rapid water rise, some flood victims urgently sought temporary housing and contacted new market areas such as Suwan Kliao Thong Tha Ruea Market to set up stalls and continue their livelihoods. As for himself, selling in front of his house next to the market, he is among those awaiting space allocation by the municipality, likely after vendors from the original market are accommodated.
Local residents unanimously remarked that this year’s flood situation is unusual compared to previous years because water levels rose rapidly instead of gradually. This gave them less time to prepare and move belongings, forcing many families to hastily relocate possessions overnight to avoid damage from the continuously rising water.