Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul visited flood-hit Ang Thong province on Saturday and pledged the timely disbursement of relief funds as the Chao Phraya River keeps rising.
The premier inspected flooded areas in Ang Thong, assuring residents the government will provide relief and restore normalcy as swiftly as possible.
Speaking to flood victims, Mr Anutin, who doubles as interior minister, acknowledged the damage to homes and property, stressing his administration is aware of their plight, despite not yet fully assuming the reins of government.
He promised financial aid would be allocated "reasonably and with fiscal discipline".
"We will work together to ease the suffering of the people. Resources and budgets will be used carefully, but also effectively.
"While we cannot fight against nature, we must find ways to minimise the damage and return everything to normal as quickly as possible," he said.
Ang Thong governor Chawanin Wongsathitjirakarn briefed the prime minister on the situation, saying water was being discharged from the Chao Phraya barrage in upstream Chai Nat at 2,200 cubic metres per second.
The release has affected downstream areas, particularly in Phongpheng canal in Pa Mok district, and Wiset Chai Chan district. Currently, four districts, 22 tambons and 1,025 households in Ang Thong are affected.
The governor added that if discharge levels reach 2,500 m³/s, measures in place could help reduce the damage in Chaiyo and Muang districts, safeguarding economic zones. He said the province had yet to receive details about government compensation funds.
The Chao Phraya Dam barrage reached 2,598 m³/s on Saturday. The dam had been releasing water at 2,200 m³/s for three consecutive days before that.
In Sapphaya district, increased water discharges raised river levels by over 40cm, eroding riverbank roads along the Chao Phraya River.
A 153m stretch of road subsided, with the most severe damage occurring in front of Wat Yang Sricharoen, where the road caved in 2m wide and 10m long, rendering it impassable.
Local officials, soldiers and residents reinforced the embankments using eucalyptus piles and sandbags to prevent further erosion and flooding of nearby villages. However, the unstable road required manual labour, as heavy machinery could not be deployed.
In Ayutthaya, the province neighbouring Ang Thong, seven districts -- Sena, Bang Ban, Bang Pa-in, Bang Sai, Phak Hai, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya and Bang Pahan -- have been inundated.
In Sena's tambon Ban Pho, floodwater surged into the grounds of Wat Kradong Thong School, submerging fields under 1–2m of water. Surrounding homes and access roads were also flooded.
In Ban Liap, tambon Ban Pho, more than 70 households are under 1–2m of water, forcing residents to travel by boat as roads are flooded and currents run strong. Many shops have been forced to close, cutting off local incomes.
Officials reported that Sena district alone has 13 tambons and 102 villages affected, reaching 6,470 households. Rescue volunteers and local officials are stepping up relief efforts.