SAMUT PRAKAN, Sept 8 (TNA) – Severe flooding has hit parts of Samut Prakan province and Pattaya city following heavy rainfall and high tides.
The downpours, which began overnight, have caused major roads and residential areas to become inundated, leading to school closures and traffic disruptions.
Samut Prakan, a province just south of Bangkok, saw significant flooding on key thoroughfares including Praksa Road, Sukhumvit Road, Theparak Road, and Srinakarin Road. Local reports indicate water levels in some areas exceeded 30 centimeters, slowing traffic to a crawl. The high water levels in local canals, combined with a high tide, have hampered drainage efforts. Officials are working to clear the floodwaters and anticipate the situation will return to normal later today if no further rain occurs.
In response to the flooding, 25 schools in the Samut Prakan area announced closures and shifted to online classes.
A tragic incident occurred on Praksa Road when a 17-year-old, identified as Mr. Thanakorn, was electrocuted while pushing his motorbike through the floodwaters. A passing pickup truck reportedly created a powerful wake that knocked him off balance. He fell and touched a roadside barrier with exposed live electrical wires, which had been connected to streetlights. Mr. Thanakorn was electrocuted and died at the scene.
Police, electricity authority officials, and rescue workers investigated the incident and confirmed the presence of live wires on the barrier. The power was cut and evidence was collected for an ongoing investigation to determine responsibility for the faulty wiring.
Meanwhile, in Pattaya, a less than one-hour deluge caused widespread flooding in low-lying areas. Numerous cars and motorbikes were damaged and stranded. In one incident on Sukhumvit Road, a vehicle stalled and began to float, trapping the driver inside until rescue workers were able to assist. -819 (TNA)
