Severe flooding devastates Kanchanaburi fish farmers

Severe flooding and flash floods have devastated over 100 fish farmers in Kanchanaburi, causing damages worth more than 235 million baht. The disaster struck several districts between July 25 and 30, leading to substantial agricultural losses.

Deputy Governor of Kanchanaburi Athisan Intra reported that flash floods and overflowing rivers have inundated homes and agricultural properties in Thong Pha Phum, Sangkhla Buri, Sai Yok, Mueang Kanchanaburi, Si Sawat, and Dan Makham Tia districts. The flooding has had the most significant impact on Mueang Kanchanaburi and Dan Makham Tia, where fish farmers in particular have suffered extensive losses.

In Mueang Kanchanaburi, the flood affected several subdistricts. In Nong Ya, villages one to nine, excluding village seven, 50 fish farmers suffered losses amounting to approximately 46 million baht. In Ko Samrong, villages two, three, five, seven, and nine, 43 fish farmers faced damages totalling around 94 million baht. Additionally, in Wang Yen, villages one, two, four, and seven reported that 28 fish farmers experienced losses estimated at 83 million baht.

Dan Makham Tia saw fish farmers in Chorakhe Phueak, villages one to three, and Khlon Do, village 10, severely impacted. In total, 12 fish farmers in these areas endured damages worth around 11.9 million baht.

Overall, a total of 133 fish farmers have been affected by the flooding, with cumulative damages amounting to approximately 236 million baht. This disaster has significantly disrupted local livelihoods and the economy, highlighting the vulnerability of agricultural communities to natural calamities, reported KhaoSod.

“The flooding has caused unprecedented damage to the fish farming industry in Kanchanaburi. We are working tirelessly to assess the full extent of the damage and provide necessary support to the affected farmers.”

In related news, severe flooding gripped Chanthaburi and Trat on Monday, July 29, as relentless rainfall continued to batter the regions.

Heavy downpours, driven by the convergence of the monsoon trough over northern Thailand and upper Laos along with a moderate southwest monsoon, have caused significant water accumulation in these eastern provinces, according to Paitoon Kengkarnchang from the Office of the National Water Resources (ONWR).