Floods 'a recurring nightmare'

Thailand has faced floods for more than a century. Some years are worse than others, but the pattern is consistent. The catastrophic 2011 floods remain the most painful reminder: according to the World Bank, they caused US$46.5 billion (1.5 trillion baht) in economic losses, displaced 13 million people, and claimed approximately 800 lives. Much of the country's industrial heartland was submerged for months, severely impacting global supply chains.

- GEORGE G VAN DER MEULEN CHAMNIERN VORRATNCHAIPHAN

Fast forward to 2025, and the story is largely unchanged. Recent floods in Nan (July), Chiang Mai (August), and Phetchabun (September) highlight that devastating inundations continue to occur.

Flooding is not limited to rural provinces; Bangkok itself has endured severe inundations in 1938, 1995, and 2011.

Major floods also struck provinces in 1983, 2000, 2010, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2019, 2024, and 2025. The frequency of such events underscores how deeply entrenched this problem is in Thai life.

WHY FLOODS HAPPEN SO OFTEN

Floods in Thailand are the product of both natural conditions and human-made vulnerabilities:

·Geography: Thailand sits on a low-lying delta plain with major rivers running north to south, making it naturally prone to flooding.

·Weather: Seasonal monsoons and tropical storms bring intense rainfall, sometimes amplified by typhoons from the Pacific.

·Land Subsidence: Irreversible sinking of the deltaic plain worsens the problem, particularly in Bangkok and surrounding provinces.

·Urbanisation and Land Use: Rapid, poorly planned urban expansion has blocked natural drainage corridors, paved over wetlands, and increased runoff.

·Deforestation: Reduced forest cover decreases natural absorption capacity and accelerates soil erosion.

.Poor Waterway Management: Canals and rivers (klongs) are often clogged with waste or inadequately maintained.

·Inadequate Infrastructure: Existing dikes and embankments are vulnerable to collapse, while large-scale flood defences have lagged behind demand.

·Governance Challenges: Overlapping responsibilities among agencies, poor coordination, and centralised decision-making hinder effective management.

#Climate Change: Rising sea levels, hotter temperatures, and more intense storms exacerbate existing vulnerabilities.

2011 'A WAKE-UP CALL'