Category: The Bangkok Post

Flooding struck 16 provinces on Sunday, mostly in the Central Plain hit by deluges of water from the Chao Phraya River, and the highest number of affected households was in Ayutthaya province.

However, the present flow in the Chao Phraya River was not affecting Bangkok, according to its governor.

The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation reported that flood levels were either stable or lower in six northern provinces – Nakhon Sawan, Phetchabun, Phichit, Phitsanulok, Sukhothai and Uttaradit.

Meanwhile, the Chao Phraya River basin in the Central Plain was receiving deluges of water from the upper section of the Chao Phraya River. The river basin is low-lying and the local section of the Chao Phraya River is a bottleneck, the DDPM said.

Floods struck parts of eight provinces in the Central Plain, namely Uthai Thani, Chai Nat, Sing Buri, Ang Thong, Suphan Buri, Ayutthaya, Pathum Thani and Nakhon Pathom.

Floodwater receded in Uthai Thani and Sing Buri and remained unchanged in Chai Nat and Suphan Buri.

Flood levels were rising in Ang Thong, Ayutthaya, Pathum Thani and Nakhon Pathom. The highest number of affected households nationwide was 43,458 in 11 districts of Ayutthaya.

The DDPM warned people in Muang and Sam Khok districts of Pathum Thani that the levels of the Chao Phraya River were increasing there.

In the Northeast, only Ban Khawao district of Chaiyaphum province suffered flooding and its level was rising.

In the East, people in Bang Nam Prieo district of Chachoengsao province saw declining flood levels.

The DDPM said 102,051 households were affected in the 16 flooded provinces and the dealth tolls in the provinces reached 12 as of Sunday.

Bangkok governor Chadchart Sittipunt said on Sunday that the Chao Phraya barrage across the Chao Phraya River in Chai Nat province was discharging water at the rate of 2,500 cubic metres per second.

The rate remained safe for the capital as the safety threshold was at 3,500 cubic metres per second.

The demolition of the new Samsen police station began at the sinkhole site on Samsen Road on Saturday night, according to Bangkok governor Chadchart Sittipunt.

The governor said at the site Sunday morning that robots were used to first remove windows and facades of the newly built police station, which was subsiding. Vehicles were moved out of the station.

Officials at the site told him that the four-storey police station had shifted and cracks were heard on Saturday night. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration reported on its Facebook page that soil under the station slid as it rained and the station then subsided.

However, adjacent police flat buildings and commercial buildings remained stable, Mr Chadchart said.

In the meantime, the Bangkok governor said, sand was being dumped to fill the sinkhole.

Workers had already dumped 3,800 cubic metres of sand into the sinkhole as of Saturday night and 1,200 cubic metres more of sand would be added on Sunday morning, he said. He did not see a new crack in the sinkhole on Sunday morning.

The governor also said that adjacent Vajira Hospital was operating as usual on Sunday.

The sinkhole formed with original dimensions of 30 metres wide, 30m long and 20m deep on the morning of Sept 24 above an underground station under construction for the Purple Line extension route of the Mass Rapid Transit Authority. The state enterprise blamed the subsidence on soft soil in the surrounding area.

Officials decided to demolish the police station and thus the reopening of Samsen Road in Dusit district of Bangkok was postponed indefinitely.

The Digital Economy and Society (DES) Ministry has ordered nationwide scrutiny of iris-scanning crypto schemes over privacy concerns.

DES Minister Chaichanok Chidchob has asked the Personal Data Protection Committee (PDPC) to conduct strict inspections nationwide following growing concerns over iris-scanning activities.

The PDPC recently issued a public warning about the biometric risks involved in exchanging iris scans for cryptocurrency, adding iris data is classified as sensitive personal information under the Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA).

Mr Chaichanok said such activities may compromise individual privacy and lead to misuse of biometric data.

The ministry was working closely with Tools for Humanity (TFH) and state agencies to ensure compliance and transparency.

The joint review focuses on three key areas: First, data retention and destruction so companies must prove that iris data is deleted immediately after its intended use.

Second, with control over paid scanning services, citizens are urged to exercise caution. The ministry is investigating the origins of funding and data handling.

Third, there must be transparency over how data will be used, encrypted, and protected, and genuine user consent.

The Sufficiency Economy Philosophy (SEP) of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej The Great, or King Rama IX, is a mechanism for that can be applied globally, says Thapana Sirivadhanabhakdi, ThaiBev CEO.

”The sufficiency economy philosophy can work as the heart of global sustainability,’ he said.

Mr Thapana was speaking on Sunday during the ‘SX Launching Forward’ session at the closing ceremony of the Sustainability Expo 2025 (SX 2025), an annual sustainability exhibition now in its sixth consecutive year.

It was held from Sept 26 to Sunday at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center.

Mr Thapana also highlighted how this year’s exhibition expanded to include Enactus, the international university students’ network that works on sustainable business models to solve environmental issues and its Word Cup 2025 competition.

While the competition is important in serving as the platform for the younger generation to showcase their innovative and creative ideas, he pointed out the international recognition of SEP is also a goal.

He said the CEO of Enactus has summarised this concept into only one word (‘enough’) and it means that it is sufficient to survive and contribute according to one’s own capacity.

In reality, he added, consumerism leads people to consume more than enough, when they and society would be better off if they kept to a limit.

‘While we believe that we need to reach Mars to ensure the survival of future generations following the predicted degradation of our planet, why aren’t we already protecting it more to secure survival for ourselves and future generations? Therefore, we need to ask ourselves what really is sufficient for us and for our economy to create sustainability,’ he said.

Former Thai League champions Muang Thong United’s indifferent start to the season continued as they could only manage a 2-2 draw at Lamphun Warriors on Friday night.

Mohammed Osman scored the opening goal for the hosts in the ninth minute before Kenan Turan equalised for the visiting Kirins four minutes later.

Muang Thong surged ahead four minutes before the break, thanks to a spectacular long shot from Anass Ahannach.

Lamphun Warriors did not have to wait long for the leveller as Anan Yodsangwal rescued a point for the home team in the 51st minute of the match.

Anan has been called up by national team coach Masatada Ishii as a replacement for “unfit” Poramet Arjvirai for Thailand’s upcoming home-and-away 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualifying games against Taiwan.

Anan said after the match: “I am very happy to have helped my team claim a point from this home game. I was able to put on a good show tonight because my teammates fed me well.”

Meanwhile, Thai League 1 leaders Buriram United host BG Pathum United for an enticing battle tonight. The Thunder Castle are enjoying a perfect start to the season with six wins from as many matches so far, while the Rabbits are in fourth place, 10 points behind the defending champions.

The alleged collusion in the vote to appoint new Senators is under review by an Election Commission subcommittee before the EC’s main panel pass final judgment.

The EC recently addressed growing criticism over delays in investigating the case, stressing that all actions by itself and its secretary-general, Sawaeng Boonmee, are in line with the law.

The investigation is now in its third stage, it said, with the 36th subcommittee reviewing the case files and preparing recommendations. Once complete, the findings will be submitted to the EC for a final ruling.

The commission also outlined the process for dealing with the case: first, the EC’s provincial offices investigate and forward opinions to its central office; second, the central office reviews and analyses the case; third, the EC’s subcommittees examine the evidence and prepare conclusions; and fourth, the EC makes the final decision.

The clarification followed a complaint filed on Friday by reserve senator Akarawat Phongthanachalitkul, who lodged a criminal complaint against the EC and Mr Sawaeng, accusing them of dereliction of duty under Section 157 of the Criminal Code and Section 172 of the Organic Act on Counter Corruption.

Mr Akarawat argued the move was not political but an effort to defend democratic principles, stressing that as a stakeholder in the Senate election, he has the right to demand transparency.

He also expressed concern about recent appointments within the Ministry of Justice, warning they could undermine judicial independence.

“We have repeatedly asked the EC for answers but have never received a clear one. The public has yet to receive justice. There are several cases that have been left to drag on, even though many facts are already evident. This should not happen in a democratic system.”

The Transport Company (Bor Kor Sor), Thailand’s state-owned interprovincial bus operator, will resume its international bus service between Khon Kaen and Vientiane, in cooperation with the Vientiane Capital State Bus Enterprise (VCSBE), from Oct 10 after a temporary suspension.

Attawit Rakjamroon, president of the Transport Company, said the resumption of the Route No.5 service will provide greater convenience for travellers and boost tourism and economic links between Thailand and Laos.

The 194-kilometre route takes around four hours and costs 180 baht per trip. Air-conditioned buses with 42 seats will operate twice daily in each direction – the Thai bus departs Khon Kaen at 8.15am, while the Lao bus leaves the Lao capital at 2.45pm.

Meanwhile, the VCSBE announced it will also begin operating its Vientiane-Khon Kaen service on the same date. Buses will depart from Vientiane at 8.15am and 2.45pm, and from Khon Kaen at 8.15am and 3pm. Tickets can be purchased at the Central Bus Station (CBS) next to the Morning Market in Vientiane from 7am to 6pm. For inquiries, passengers may call (+856) 20 96834578.

According to transport officials, Thai and Lao buses will alternate on the route, charging the same fare but accepting payment in Thai baht only. Passengers must present a valid passport when purchasing tickets. In Khon Kaen, the service will depart from Bus Terminal 3, where passengers can transfer to the Khon Kaen City Bus for travel to the city centre.

Currently, the Transport Company operates 11 international bus routes between Thailand and Laos. These routes include:

1.Nong Khai – Vientiane,

2.Udon Thani – Vientiane,

3.Khon Kaen – Vientiane,

4.Bangkok – Vientiane,

5.Nakhon Phanom – Thakhek,

6.Ubon Ratchathani – Pakse,

7.Bangkok – Pakse,

8.Mukdahan – Savannakhet,

9.Loei – Xayaburi – Luang Prabang,

10.Udon Thani – Vang Vieng, and

11.Chiang Rai – Bokeo (Shuttle Bus).

Thailand needs a “third way” party that blends tradition with reform to end two decades of cyclical social and political conflict, says Suvit Maesincee, former minister of higher education, science, research and innovation.

He called for a new political alternative that transcends Thailand’s entrenched ideological divide.

Writing on his Facebook page, he proposed the creation of a party that harmonises traditional values with reformist ideals, arguing that such a synthesis could become a “game changer” for the future.

“For over two decades,” he wrote, “Thai politics has been trapped in a vortex of conflict between conservatives who cling to tradition and progressives who demand reform. The result has been polarisation, economic stagnation, and a divided society stripped of its creative energy.”

He identified Thailand’s so-called “deep state” as a key driver of this gridlock — a network of entrenched power, he said, that uses traditional values as a shield for vested interests rather than as a guiding principle for the common good.

At the same time, many reformist movements, he said, have pushed change too aggressively, failing to appreciate the depth of Thai cultural roots — and thereby provoking fierce backlash.

He proposed what he called a “third path” for Thai politics — not merely a centrist compromise, but a new political synthesis that draws on the strengths of both sides.

Tradition, he said, must serve as the foundation of national stability and identity, while reform must act as the creative force driving the country’s transformation in the modern world.

He argued that a party capable of walking this delicate line would not just be a “mediator” between extremes, but a genuine “game changer” that transforms the entire political order.

Such a party, the former minister said, would move Thailand from ideological politics to principle-based politics, from power struggles to collaborative nation-building, and from the protection of narrow interests to inclusive prosperity for all.

“The future of Thai politics will not change as long as we remain trapped in choosing between two extremes,” he said.

A senior corrections officer in this northeastern Thai province shot dead his former wife and her new partner before turning the gun on himself in a violent confrontation at official prison housing on Saturday night.

Police said the incident occurred around 7.50pm at a staff residence inside Nakhon Ratchasima Central Prison in tambon Nai Muang of Muang Nakhon Ratchasima. Officers and rescue workers arrived to find one man dead and two people seriously injured.

The gunman, identified as Nattapong Kliangpiboon, the prison department’s director, was found dead outside the house with a 9mm handgun beside him. Inside, officers discovered Trakul Phanchai, the prison’s nursing director and Nattapong’s ex-wife, and Wichit Thongsing, a recently appointed prison warden who had been in a relationship with her.

Initial police investigations revealed that the three had been arguing before Nattapong opened fire on the couple. Wichit reportedly returned fire with a .38-calibre handgun, resulting in a brief shootout that left Trakul and Wichit fatally wounded. Nattapong was slightly wounded after the gunfight. He shot himself to death to escape arrest.

Paramedics tried to resuscitate Trakul and Wichit and rushed them to Maharat Nakhon Ratchasima Hospital, but they were later pronounced dead.

Police said jealousy was the motive. Nattapong was reportedly furious that his former wife had begun a new relationship with Wichit, a recently transferred officer at the same prison.

A nearby resident who asked to be named as Ram said he and his family were eating at a barbecue restaurant across the street when they heard multiple gunshots, causing panic among diners.

Thailand’s new foreign affairs minister, Sihasak Phuangketkeow, said on Thursday that Thailand will be back on the “global radar” while he serves in office.

Speaking to the media at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Bangkok, Mr Sihasak outlined his plans to execute diplomacy during the current administration’s four-month tenure.

Mr Sihasak said that after a long absence, Thailand deserves to make a global comeback, adding that it is necessary to restore its international image by presenting itself as a dynamic country of economic significance.

“Foreign countries often refer to Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, and Vietnam when they talk about Southeast Asia,” he said. “Thailand is only known for having good food, good people, and tourist spots, but we need to portray our economic dimensions as well.”

Mr Sihasak’s schedule is busy over the coming months with international meetings planned, including those related to the Thailand-Cambodia conflict, the general election in Myanmar slated for December, the Asean Summit in Malaysia’s Putrajaya in November, and the Apec Summit in South Korea at the end of October.

“We need to head in directions where Thailand’s benefits could be taking place,” he said.

Mr Sihasak said his ministry will aim to improve communication efficiency in its diplomatic efforts. During the border conflict, Thailand’s communication was perceived as limited and slow compared to that of the Cambodian side, he said.

It is necessary to respond more quickly while creating understanding among the Thai public, he said.

Thailand’s unstable politics have also been a factor limiting the country’s presence on the world stage, Mr Sihasak added.