A typical scenario (an illustrative example, not an interview with any resident)

Auntie Sri has lived in a two-storey house near a temple in Pak Chong subdistrict since she was a young woman. The ground floor is concrete, used as a kitchen and storeroom; the upper floor is old teak built by her parents. Every rainy season she listens for news about the Pa Sak River, because the house is not far from the water. This year was different. The water did not rise slowly and fall slowly the way it used to.

The first wave came at night with reddish, silty water. She had washed half the kitchen floor when the second wave brought the mud straight back. Then the third wave arrived, with news that the Pa Sak had overtopped its bank.

Afterwards the ground floor smelled of mud and mustiness, the walls carried three tide lines, and black spots clustered under the stairs. Her grandson began coughing at night. Bleach and fans did not stop the smell returning every humid evening. Repeated flooding means a house never dries fully between waves, which is exactly what germs and mold like best.

Where the Flood Hit in Pak Chong, Lom Sak: Facts From the News Report

According to Daily News (19 September 2026), the key facts for Lom Sak district, Phetchabun, were:

• Heavy overnight rain produced a third wave of flash-flood run-off.
• The Pa Sak River reached 8.56 metres, 26 centimetres above its bank.
• Water flooded the Tha Kok Pho, Wat Thung Samut and Ban Rai communities in Pak Chong subdistrict.
• Around 300 households were affected.

For national context, Daily News reported Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) data as of 06:00 on 5 October 2026: flooding affected 26 provinces plus Bangkok, a total of 1,270,151 households and 3,519,416 people. Thai PBS reported that the Office of the National Water Resources (ONWR) warned of heavy rain and flash floods from 5 to 7 October in the north and parts of the south.

Note: river levels and household counts are as of the dates in each report and change constantly. Please follow the latest announcements from Lom Sak district, the municipality and local agencies. This article does not state water depths inside individual homes, because the report did not provide them.

How a Multi-Wave Flood in Lom Sak, Phetchabun Differs From a One-Off Flood

Lom Sak sits in the upper valley of the Pa Sak basin, surrounded by hills and higher ground. When heavy rain falls on the mountains, water rushes quickly into streams and the river. That is why floods here often behave like flash floods: fast, forceful, and loaded with silt, branches, leaves and dirt washed from fields and animal pens.

What made Pak Chong subdistrict harder than usual was the phrase third wave. Water returning again and again means:

• The house never fully dries between waves. Timber, walls and floors that start to dry are soaked again, so moisture penetrates deeper each time.
• Mud builds up in layers. Each wave leaves silt in corners, under cabinets, beneath stairs and in wood grain. Some layers bake hard; others stay wet.
• People run out of energy before the work is done. Many families cleaned once, had to start over, and eventually left some areas because they were simply exhausted.
• Germs have time to multiply. Warm, humid days between waves are ideal for bacteria and mold to grow.

Once the Pa Sak overflowed, the water entering riverside homes was no longer clean rain. It had passed through rice fields, roads, drains, septic tanks and livestock pens. Homes in Tha Kok Pho, Wat Thung Samut and Ban Rai include raised wooden houses, half-timber houses, shophouses and single-storey concrete homes, and each type holds contamination differently. Wood absorbs moisture into its fibres; concrete holds it in walls and under tiles; and enclosed shophouses keep odours longer than airy houses.

Temple sala halls and kitchens are shared spaces; if they are not properly restored, germs and mold become a hygiene issue for the whole community.

Every Kind of Germ the Flood Brought to Pak Chong, Lom Sak: Bacteria, Viruses, Mold and Odour

There are four distinct groups that families in Lom Sak should understand.

1. Bacteria From Mud, Sewage and Animal Waste

Flash-flood water that crosses fields, cattle and pig pens and septic tanks carries many bacteria into homes. Common ones include E. coli, from human and animal faeces, which causes diarrhoea, stomach cramps and vomiting; Salmonella, which contaminates food and utensils and causes food poisoning; and, of particular concern in rural areas, Leptospira, the cause of leptospirosis. Leptospira is shed in the urine of rats and some animals and enters the body through cuts or skin that has been soaked for a long time.

These bacteria stay in the mud on floors, tile joints and sofa foam, and after several waves a single wash will not remove it all.

Warning: if anyone in the household develops a high fever, headache, muscle pain (especially in the calves), red eyes or severe fatigue after wading or cleaning, see a doctor promptly and say you were exposed to flood water. Do not wait for it to pass; leptospirosis responds well to early treatment.

2. Viruses That Spread Indoors After the Water Recedes

During and after a flood, people live closer together than usual. Some families shelter in the temple sala or with relatives; some take neighbours in upstairs. That favours the spread of several viruses. Norovirus and rotavirus cause diarrhoea and vomiting, especially in young children, and pass via hands, utensils and contaminated surfaces. RSV and influenza spread through droplets and surfaces and move more easily when the air is cool and damp and people are crowded together.

Young children, older adults, pregnant women and people with chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart disease or lung disease are most at risk, because their immune systems may not cope as well.

3. Mold in Wood, Walls, Fabrics and Mattresses

Mold is slow to appear but long to stay. Health bodies such as WHO and CDC advise cleaning and drying a home as quickly as possible, generally within 24 to 48 hours after the water recedes, to limit mold growth. For homes in Pak Chong hit by several waves, drying within that window was almost impossible, so mold had time to settle into timber, gypsum walls, wallpaper, curtains, mattresses and wardrobes.

Mold spores float in the air. Breathing them can cause a blocked nose, sneezing, coughing, itchy eyes and skin rashes, and can trigger asthma or allergies in people who already have them. People with weakened immunity may face more serious infections.

4. Musty, Muddy and Sewage Odours

Smell is what residents complain about most, because it intrudes on daily life. Mustiness comes from mold and bacteria breaking down organic matter; the muddy smell from silt still damp under floors and inside walls; and the sewage smell from water that backed up through drains and septic tanks. These odours are not just a nuisance. They are a sign that microorganisms are still active in the house, and that recovery is not finished.

What Families Along the Pa Sak in Lom Sak Face After the Water Drops

Health. Small symptoms that few people link to the flood may appear: a night-time cough, a blocked nose in the morning, itchy rashes on arms and legs, on-and-off diarrhoea, or a child who cannot settle to sleep. These may be connected to mold and bacteria left in the house. If symptoms do not improve or get worse, see a doctor at the nearest hospital or subdistrict health centre.

Money. Belongings soaked several times are damaged more; mattresses, sofas and particle-board cabinets may have to go, and every day off to fix the house is lost income for farming and trading families.

Time and peace of mind. Cleaning a house hit by three waves takes days or weeks, and seeing a freshly cleaned house soaked again is exhausting. A lingering musty smell keeps the feeling that the flood is not over alive. A small grocery or food stall that still smells musty may also lose customers.

Why the Usual Fixes Fall Short in a House Hit by Several Waves

Most residents have already swept, hosed, bleached and run fans. The smell returns because of each method's limits.

• Bleach only treats the surface. Wipe-on or pour-on disinfectants work well on smooth surfaces but cannot reach wood pores, wall cracks, the back of cabinets, under timber floors, or the air throughout a room. Overusing them in a closed room can also irritate the airways.
• Fans dry, but they do not disinfect. Fans speed up evaporation, which is vital, but they can also blow mold spores around the house.
• Air fresheners only mask. The fragrance lasts a few hours while the source of the smell stays put, and when it fades the mustiness returns.
• Painting over mold hides the problem. Living mold keeps growing beneath the paint and makes it bubble or peel within weeks.
• Sunlight works only for things you can carry. Walls, floors, ceilings, timber frames and built-in cabinets cannot be put in the sun, and the rainy season offers little sunshine anyway.

Removing mud, washing and drying remain the core of recovery; hidden germs and embedded odours need an added step that reaches everywhere.

Ozone Disinfection in Lom Sak, Phetchabun With WHD: How Ozone Works After Cleaning and Drying

The Residential and Building Ozone Disinfection service from World Health Disinfection (WHD) uses ozone gas (O3), a highly oxidising form of oxygen. Released into a sealed room, ozone spreads throughout the space, into the air, corners, beneath furniture and onto material surfaces, where it breaks down the cell structures of viruses, bacteria and mold and breaks apart odour molecules. When the job is done, ozone reverts to oxygen (O2), leaving no chemical residue in the home.

According to test results certified for the company by Thailand's Department of Medical Sciences and Intertek (UK), WHD's ozone system eliminates viruses, bacteria and mold by 99.99%. Details are on the company's certification page.

Important: ozone does not replace mud removal, drying or medical care. It is an added step after the mud is out, the house is washed and it has dried. Treatment takes place in an empty room, with no people, pets or plants inside. Everyone re-enters only after the rest and ventilation period set by the technician.

The General Process

1. Talk and assess. Contact WHD by phone or LINE with your location in Pak Chong, Lom Sak, floor area, number of rooms, type of house and post-flood condition. The team confirms travel and whether service is possible.
2. Prepare the rooms. Close windows and doors, open cupboards and drawers so ozone can reach inside, and move all people, pets and plants out.
3. Fill the room with ozone. The technician sets up the machine and controls concentration for the room size.
4. Contact time. Ozone works for the set time; a typical cycle is about 30 minutes per zone.
5. Rest and ventilate. Ozone reverts to oxygen, then the space is aired according to the technician's advice.
6. Handover. The technician checks the area and tells you when it is safe to go back in.

WHD's office is in Bang Khae, Bangkok 10160, and the company has no branch in Phetchabun. Service in Lom Sak is arranged by phone on 065-556-6294 or LINE @whd268. The team confirms distance, date, time and scope with each customer first, so same-day arrival cannot be promised.

Timing: When to Ozone a Lom Sak Home If Another Wave Might Come

The question people in Pak Chong ask most is when to book ozone, because after three waves nobody can promise there won't be a fourth. The honest answer: do not ozone while the house is still at risk of flooding again. If the water returns, a new load of mud and germs moves straight back in.

A sensible order is:

1. Follow local announcements and ONWR warnings, which flagged heavy rain and flash floods in the north from 5 to 7 October 2026.
2. Once the Pa Sak is back to normal and no new warning is in force, start removing mud and washing properly.
3. Dry the house as much as possible: open doors and windows, use fans and a dehumidifier if you have one, especially in wooden houses that absorbed a lot of water.
4. Discard items damaged beyond repair, such as long-soaked mattresses, swollen plywood and carpets.
5. Then book ozone to deal with germs and odours left in the air and in corners.

10 Reasons Homes in Tha Kok Pho, Wat Thung Samut and Ban Rai Should Consider Ozone After the Flood

1. It reaches every corner. As a gas, ozone gets under cabinets, behind stairs, into wall gaps and beneath timber floors where cloths and sponges cannot.
2. It treats the air. Mold spores and airborne germs are reduced, not only those on surfaces.
3. It breaks down odour at the source. Musty, muddy and sewage smells are destroyed at the molecular level rather than masked. See the ozone service details.
4. No chemical residue. Ozone reverts to oxygen, suitable for homes with small children and older adults once people re-enter at the time the technician sets.
5. Suited to wooden houses. Old teak and half-timber homes in Lom Sak are porous; ozone helps reduce germs on and near wood surfaces better than wiping alone.
6. Quick. A typical cycle is about 30 minutes per zone, with no need to strip the whole house.
7. Certified test results. According to tests certified for the company by the Department of Medical Sciences and Intertek, 99.99% of viruses, bacteria and mold are eliminated.
8. Helps shared community spaces. A sala, meeting room or any space many people use after the flood can be planned zone by zone.
9. Eases worry. When the smell is gone and the air feels fresh, the sense that home is home again returns. Book ozone in Lom Sak.
10. A useful extra. Ozone jobs of 15,000 baht or more come with a free medical-grade disinfectant spray to keep frequently touched surfaces clean afterwards.

Before and After: A Pa Sak Riverside Home After Three Waves

Results vary with damage and preparation; deeply moldy materials may need replacing first.

Example Case: A Grocery Shop and a Wooden House Behind the Temple in Pak Chong

(An illustrative example to explain the process, not a review from an identifiable customer.)

Ek runs a small grocery at the front of his home; behind it is a raised wooden house where he lives with parents in their seventies. When the first wave arrived, he moved stock to high shelves. The second wave rose higher and soaked the crates of drinking water and snacks on the bottom shelves. With the third wave, when the Pa Sak overtopped its bank, water reached under the house and into the back storeroom.

Once no new warning was issued, Ek and his relatives spent nearly a week shovelling mud, discarding wet stock, washing shelves and running fans. Still the shop smelled musty and his father coughed more at night. Ek took his father for a check-up first, then contacted WHD on LINE. The team asked for photos, advised discarding a soaked mattress and letting the floor dry a few more days, then booked an agreed date. Everyone waited at a relative's house while the technician treated the shop, storeroom, bedroom and kitchen zone by zone, ventilating each before handover.

Afterwards customers stopped mentioning the smell, and the family keeps ventilating daily. Ozone works best as the final step, after washing and drying.

Recovery Checklist for Lom Sak, Phetchabun Homes Before and After Ozone

Before going back in

• Wait for local authorities to say it is safe, and check there is no new flash-flood warning.
• Switch off power at the main breaker; call an electrician if unsure.
• Check posts, beams and timber floors for sinking, leaning or rot from soaking.
• Wear boots, rubber gloves and a face mask.

While cleaning

• Shovel out as much mud as possible before hosing, so it does not clog drains.
• Wash surfaces with clean water and detergent, then disinfect frequently touched surfaces.
• Throw away food, medicine and cosmetics that touched flood water.
• Wash and disinfect dishes and utensils before use.
• Discard mattresses, pillows, carpets and swollen plywood that cannot be dried and cleaned.
• Wash hands after every session and treat any cut immediately.

Before ozone day

• Dry the house as much as possible with several days of ventilation.
• Open cupboards, drawers and internal doors so ozone spreads evenly.
• Arrange somewhere for people and pets to stay, and take plants out.
• Tell the technician which rooms smell worst or have the most mold.

After ozone

• Re-enter only at the time the technician gives.
• Keep ventilating; do not keep the house sealed for long periods.
• Check weekly for new damp patches or mold, especially after rain.
• If anyone still has unusual symptoms, see a doctor.

FAQ: Ozone After the Lom Sak, Phetchabun Flood

Q: Does WHD have a branch in Phetchabun or Lom Sak?
A: No. WHD's office is in Bang Khae, Bangkok. Service in Lom Sak is arranged by phone on 065-556-6294 or LINE @whd268, and the team confirms travel, timing and scope first.

Q: My house is still wet. Can I ozone now?
A: Not recommended. Remove mud, wash and dry first. Ozone is an added step after that; if the house stays very damp, mold can grow back.

Q: Can the family stay upstairs during treatment?
A: Everyone, including pets and plants, should leave the treated area and return only after the rest and ventilation period. The technician will plan zones with you and advise where people should wait.

Q: After three waves, is ozone wasted if the water comes back?
A: If the house floods again, new mud and germs will come in, so wait until the situation settles and no new warning is in force before booking.

Q: Can ozone treat leptospirosis or diarrhoea?
A: No. Ozone disinfects spaces and air; it is not medical treatment. Fever, calf pain, diarrhoea or other symptoms after flood exposure need a doctor.

Plan Ozone Disinfection for Your Home in Pak Chong, Lom Sak, Phetchabun

If your home in Tha Kok Pho, Wat Thung Samut, Ban Rai or elsewhere in Lom Sak has been washed and dried but still smells musty and you are worried about germs, the WHD team is ready to plan with you.

See the Ozone Service and Book

Phone 065-556-6294 | LINE @whd268 | worldhealthdisinfection@gmail.com

Related Links and References

• Ozone cleaning service
• Disinfection service
• Contact WHD
• Daily News: third flash-flood wave, Pa Sak overflows into Pak Chong communities, Lom Sak (19 Sep 2026)
• Daily News: national flood situation, DDPM data (5 Oct 2026)
• Thai PBS: ONWR warns of heavy rain and flash floods, 5 to 7 Oct
• WHO: Fact sheets
• CDC: Floods and cleanup safety
• Department of Disease Control, Thailand

Note: event details and figures are as of the dates in the news and DDPM reports and change daily. Please follow the latest local announcements.