Bang Ban still inundated as floodwater reaches second floors

Ayutthaya — 5 October 2026, Flooding remains severe in Bang Ban district, Ayutthaya, where water has reached the second floors of some homes, leaving residents to travel by boat and forcing some families to rent temporary accommodation so they can get to work.

Communities along the Chao Phraya River, particularly Moo 3 in Ban Kum subdistrict, have been heavily affected. Water has overflowed riverbanks and flooded almost the entire community, with sections beginning to spill across roads.

Residents and officials have reinforced earthen barriers and sandbag defences to stop more water from crossing the roads. Cars and motorcycles have been moved to still-dry stretches of road, while high water inside the community has left some households unable to use their toilets.

Nareerat, 27, a local resident who asked that her surname be withheld, said the floodwater had risen quickly over about eight days, climbing by 50-60 centimetres at a time. On some days, she said, the water rose by two steps on her home’s staircase.

“Some homes are now flooded up to the second floor,” she said. “For homes where the water has reached the roof, the owners have had to move out and rent accommodation elsewhere.”

She said the flooding was among the worst in recent years and was approaching last year’s level. Residents now have to leave home early for work because they must travel in and out by boat, while strong currents make conditions particularly difficult for older people.

A major problem is the loss of usable toilets, she said. Some residents fear it is unsafe to paddle boats through floodwater to reach their bathrooms and have called on authorities to provide temporary floating toilets.

Another resident, 64-year-old Narumol, who also asked that her surname be withheld, said water around her home was so deep that two people standing on each other’s shoulders would still not rise above it. She estimated some areas were 2-3 metres deep.

Although water levels remain slightly below last year’s peak, she said further releases could push them higher. Her own second-floor toilet remains usable, but many homes have no functioning bathroom.

Narumol said authorities once diverted excess water into nearby fields to reduce flooding in communities, but some areas were no longer accepting water, leaving residents inundated for longer. They are also waiting for clarity on flood-relief payments and how to apply for assistance online.