Jet ski rider charged for drifting through floodwaters on Bangkok main street

A man who rode a jet ski through submerged Bangkok, making waves along Phetchaburi Road, a major artery in the Thai capital, was arrested and charged with "causing a public nuisance."

A video widely circulated on Thai social media showed the rider accelerating and making sharp turns, sending waves toward homes and roadside structures on Sunday evening.

Nearby residents complained about the stunt, noting that other people were trying to navigate the flooded road, according to the Bangkok Post.

The 28-year-old rider initially posted the video on his personal Facebook account, "Sorn Keadsiri", with the caption "B K K D R I F T".

A still image from a video circulating on social media showing a man riding a jet ski through a flooded section of Phetchaburi Road in Bangkok on Sept. 27, 2026.

The footage showed him maneuvering through a flooded section of the road, spraying water across pavements, pedestrian bridge steps, and roadside walls.

Several motorcyclists were seen traveling through the area, while some cars were parked along the street after their engines stalled in the flood.

Makkasan police detained the rider, whose legal name has not been released, and charged him with "causing a public nuisance" and "obstructing traffic," The Thaiger reported.

The person who recorded the video was also charged with supporting the rider in the commission of a crime, police said.

The exact punishment facing the two men has not been clarified.

Police have confiscated the jet ski as evidence and plan to seek a court order for its permanent forfeiture.

The rider is reportedly the CEO of an entertainment company who previously produced a short motorsport film backed by international automotive brands and the Tourism Authority of Thailand.

Bangkok declared a city-wide disaster on Sept. 26 after nearly 48 hours of heavy rain swelled canals and flooded roads.

Thailand's cabinet approved special holidays on Sept. 28 and 29 for civil servants in Bangkok and three surrounding provinces due to the severe weather.

"Over 80,000 residents living in flooded areas are unable to leave their homes," Unsit Sampuntharat, the permanent secretary of the interior ministry, said in a statement to Reuters, adding that mobile kitchens and boats are being mobilized in relief efforts.