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

Auntie Chan has sold vegetables, eggs and home-cooked local dishes at a community market near Phanom Dong Rak for decades. Her house is a two-storey timber home whose ground floor has been rebuilt in concrete, used as a kitchen and a store for her stock. Every morning before dawn she prepares her goods and pushes her cart to the market before the crowds arrive.

That night the rain started in the evening and never stopped; it drummed so loudly on the tin roof that the family could barely talk. Near daybreak her son woke her: water was in the kitchen. Brown water was rushing in from the direction of the hills. The family hurried to lift fish-sauce containers, rice sacks and stock onto higher ground, but the food cabinet, the stove and the vegetable crates on the floor were already underwater. The market where she sells every day flooded too.

When the water went down, she and the other vendors washed their stalls, swept out the mud and hosed down the market floor. But days later, the kitchen at home still smelled musty, with a hint of drains. The lower concrete walls showed tide marks, the wooden cabinet had mold spots, and she began to wonder whether food cooked there would be safe for her customers. That is the challenge for many families in Phanom Dong Rak, where the home is not only a place to live but also a place to earn a living.

Where the Flood Hit in Phanom Dong Rak, Surin

This summary comes from Matichon's report on events of 24 September 2026. No other figures have been added, and conditions may change daily.

• Cause: heavy overnight rain, runoff from the Phanom Dong Rak range, and the Sai Chok (Bu Am Pao) reservoir overflowing its spillway.
• Places affected: Ban Run, Bakdai subdistrict, and Ban Ta Miang, Ta Miang subdistrict, Phanom Dong Rak district.
• What flooded: the community, the market and the SAO office.
• Route 224: the road towards Ban Kruat district was flooded more than 50 centimetres deep over roughly one kilometre.

Nationally, Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) data at 06.00 on 5 October 2026, reported by Daily News, showed 26 provinces plus Bangkok affected, with 1,270,151 households and 3,519,416 people. The Office of the National Water Resources (ONWR) warned of heavy rain and flash floods in the north and parts of the south from 5 to 7 October 2026, according to Thai PBS.

What stands out about this flood is that it did not only enter homes. It also reached places the whole community shares: a market selling fresh food and an office where villagers go for local government services. Recovery therefore needs to happen at both the household and the community level.

What the Flood Left in Homes, Market Stalls and Buildings in Bakdai and Ta Miang

Phanom Dong Rak lies along a mountain range. When heavy rain falls on high ground, water gathers quickly and rushes down carrying soil, sand and debris. With reservoir overflow added, the volume grew until it flooded the community. It left behind:

• Mud and sediment on floors, under raised houses, in kitchens and along the grooves of the market floor.
• Sewage and animal waste, as the water passed toilets, septic pits, cattle and buffalo pens and chicken coops before reaching homes.
• Spoiled food and ingredients, especially in the market and vendors' kitchens, where vegetables, meat and condiments may have been submerged.
• Damp documents and furniture in offices: filing cabinets, wooden desks and rugs that absorbed water.
• Moisture inside walls and under floors, in traditional stilt houses, half-timber, half-concrete homes and concrete buildings alike.

Most rural homes in Surin are timber houses on stilts, or timber houses with a concrete ground floor added later. The open space beneath is used to store farming tools, rice sacks and the walking tractor, and is where the family rests in the heat of the day. Many households also keep cattle, buffalo or chickens close by. When that space floods, germs from animal waste and mud spread through the area where people spend much of their day.

The Germs Floodwater Brings to Surin, and Who Is Most at Risk in Phanom Dong Rak

Thailand's Department of Disease Control, the WHO and the CDC all advise watching for infections after a flood, from water, mud, food and damp homes. These are the main groups residents and vendors should know.

Bacteria from sewage and food

E. coli lives in human and animal intestines. If floodwater passed through toilets or animal pens, household surfaces, kitchens and market stalls are likely to be contaminated. It causes diarrhoea, stomach cramps and nausea. Salmonella is a leading cause of food poisoning, found in eggs, meat and food contaminated by animal droppings. Flooded kitchens and markets must be washed and disinfected properly before selling food again.

Leptospirosis is common in rural and rice-farming areas of the northeast, especially after floods. The bacteria live in the urine of rats and some other animals, survive in water and mud, and enter through wounds, scratches or the lining of the eyes and mouth. Symptoms include sudden high fever, headache, muscle pain (especially in the calves) and red eyes. Anyone who develops these after wading, working in the fields or shovelling mud must see a doctor straight away and mention the flood exposure.

Viruses

Norovirus and rotavirus spread via hands, utensils and contaminated food, causing vomiting and severe diarrhoea; they move quickly through markets and kitchens using unsafe water. RSV and influenza spread through droplets in the rainy season and pass easily among people crowded together or living in damp houses.

Mold

Mold begins to grow within 24 to 48 hours of materials getting wet, which is why the CDC and WHO recommend cleaning and drying as fast as possible. Timber, food cabinets, sleeping mats, mattresses, pillows, filing cabinets and paper are favourite places for mold. Airborne spores aggravate allergies and asthma.

Musty, muddy and rotting odours

Smells after the Phanom Dong Rak flood come from fermenting mud, sewage backflow, rotting vegetables and food in the market, and mold on walls and furniture. They are a sign that the source is still there.

Higher-risk groups

• Older adults caring for grandchildren while working-age family members are away.
• Young children who play under the house and on the floor.
• Pregnant women and people with chronic illness such as diabetes, hypertension or kidney disease.
• Market vendors who handle food, water and market floors every day.
• Farmers returning to fields and livestock after the water drops.
• Officials and volunteers cleaning the community and public buildings.

The Aftermath for Families and the Phanom Dong Rak Community

Health. People may start coughing, sniffling, developing rashes or diarrhoea without realising that a damp home and kitchen still harbour germs.

Income. Food vendors must stop selling until they are confident their kitchens and stalls are clean, and every day closed is income lost. Farmers have to split their time between repairing the house and looking after fields and animals.

Cost. Damaged mats, mattresses, wooden food cabinets and kitchen equipment need replacing. If mold is allowed to spread, items that were still fine will be ruined too.

Customer confidence. A market that still smells musty or rotten makes shoppers hesitate to return. Getting the market clean and odour-free matters for the whole local economy.

Public services. When the SAO office floods, documents, furniture and workrooms must be restored so staff can work and villagers can visit safely.

Why Ordinary Washing Is Not Enough for Phanom Dong Rak Homes and Markets

Removing mud and washing thoroughly cannot be skipped. But the methods people use next often fall short.

• Bleach alone disinfects smooth surfaces, but not wood grain, the space under the house, behind cabinets or the air. Mixed with some toilet cleaners it can release irritating gas.
• Hosing the market floor and letting it dry naturally removes mud, but damp corners will bring mold and odour back.
• Incense or air freshener only covers the smell for a while.
• Painting over mold lets it keep growing until the paint bubbles and peels.
• Sun-drying wet documents rescues some paper, but filing cabinets and offices stay damp.

What is missing is a way to deal with germs and odour spread through the air and every corner of a room, which is where ozone helps.

How WHD Ozone Disinfection Suits Surin Homes, Shops and Buildings After a Flood

World Health Disinfection (WHD) provides residential and building ozone disinfection for homes, condos, hotels, offices, factories, schools and hospitals. Ozone (O3) is a strongly oxidising gas. Released into a closed, unoccupied space, it spreads everywhere, including corners and gaps that wiping cannot reach, breaking down the cell structures of viruses, bacteria and mold and splitting odour molecules. Ozone then reverts to oxygen (O2), leaving no chemical residue.

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

Safety rules

• Remove mud, wash and dry first. Ozone is the final step and does not replace cleaning.
• Treat empty spaces only. People, pets and plants must leave, returning only after the rest and ventilation period set by the technician.
• Flooded food must be thrown away. Ozone treatment of a kitchen does not make food that touched floodwater safe.
• If you are ill, see a doctor. Anyone with fever, calf pain, diarrhoea or breathing difficulty should go to a hospital or local health-promoting hospital.

Process

1. Assessment by phone or LINE: building type, floor area, flood height and where odour or mold appears, with photos.
2. Preparation: close doors and windows, open cupboards and drawers, remove people, animals, plants and food.
3. Ozone release: the technician sets up equipment and controls output to suit the space.
4. Contact time: typically about 30 minutes per zone.
5. Rest and ventilation: for the recommended time before the space is used again.

Arranging service in Phanom Dong Rak and other Surin districts

WHD is based in Bang Khae, Bangkok 10160, and has no branch in Surin. Service in Bakdai, Ta Miang, Phanom Dong Rak or other Surin districts is planned together by phone on 065-556-6294 or LINE @whd268. The team confirms travel, coverage and possible dates when you get in touch, and cannot guarantee same-day arrival. For a market or a building with several units, owners can coordinate so the work can be planned as a single visit where practical.

Promotion: book an ozone job of 15,000 baht or more and receive a free medical-grade disinfectant spray.

10 Reasons Phanom Dong Rak Homes and Shops Should Consider Ozone After the Flood

1. It reaches beneath raised floors and into wood joints within enclosed spaces.
2. It covers several germ groups: bacteria, viruses and mold. See the service details.
3. It reduces rotting and musty kitchen odours once the kitchen has been cleaned.
4. It helps prepare stalls and food shops for reopening after full cleaning and drying.
5. It suits offices and document rooms, where cabinets and paper trap stale air.
6. No chemical residue: ozone turns back into oxygen after the cycle.
7. It lowers the chance of mold returning when done after the building is dry.
8. Short cycles: typically about 30 minutes per zone, excluding preparation and airing.
9. Certified results: according to test results certified for the company, it eliminates viruses, bacteria and mold by 99.99%. Read more.
10. Confidence for families and customers alike: homes and shops free of musty air show that the community is recovering.

Before and After Ozone: Homes and Market Stalls in Bakdai and Ta Miang

Note: results depend on the space and remaining moisture. Rotten or deeply moldy materials may need replacing, and food that touched floodwater must always be thrown away.

Example Case: A Stilt House in Ta Miang Subdistrict After the Water Fell

Example case (an illustrative scenario explaining the steps, not a review from any customer)

Tom works at a factory in eastern Thailand and headed home to Phanom Dong Rak as soon as he heard that mountain water had poured into his village. His parents' house is a timber home on stilts; the space underneath holds rice sacks and farming tools and is where his father naps in the afternoon. Water filled the space under the house and left it thick with mud, soaking the bamboo daybed and mats, and also entered the kitchen extension at the back.

Tom and his siblings shovelled out the mud, washed the under-house area and kitchen, threw away the wet mats, mattress and rice, scrubbed and sun-dried the daybed, and opened every window until floors and walls were dry. Yet at night, with the kitchen closed, it still smelled musty and of drains, and his mother's bedroom upstairs picked up a damp smell rising from below.

Tom contacted WHD on LINE @whd268 with photos and the floor area. The team advised cleaning the drains and bathroom thoroughly, throwing out all flooded food and confirming that materials were dry, then booking a date the crew could travel. On the day, his parents stayed with relatives and the chickens kept under the house were moved elsewhere temporarily. The technician treated the kitchen and bedroom zone by zone. After the rest and ventilation period the musty smell was clearly reduced, and the family moved back in, determined to keep humidity under control.

Phanom Dong Rak Recovery Checklist for Homes and Markets, Before and After Ozone

Before going in

• Follow district and SAO announcements that the area is safe, and drive carefully on roads that flooded, such as Route 224.
• Switch off at the breaker and have sockets, wiring and water pumps checked before use.
• Wear boots, rubber gloves and a mask, and cover any wounds.
• Watch for snakes and other dangerous animals under the house, in woodpiles or among sacks.

Clean and dry

• Remove mud while wet and wash from top to bottom.
• Discard all food, rice, condiments and ingredients that touched floodwater.
• Wash dishes, chopping boards and kitchen tools with clean water and detergent, then disinfect.
• Discard mats, mattresses, pillows and absorbent items that cannot be washed.
• Clean animal pens and coops and remove manure mixed with mud.
• Ventilate to dry within 24 to 48 hours where possible.

Markets and public buildings

• Wash market floors, drains and stalls thoroughly and remove all rotting food.
• Separate wet documents for handling and clean cabinets and desks.
• Coordinate with other stallholders or the agency to clean and treat zone by zone.

After ozone

• Re-enter after the rest and ventilation period given by the technician.
• Open windows and keep air moving under the house on dry days.
• If anyone develops fever, calf pain, red eyes, diarrhoea or breathing difficulty, see a doctor immediately.

FAQ: Ozone After the Surin Flood

1. Only the space under my stilt house flooded. Do I need ozone?

If, after washing and drying, a musty smell still rises upstairs or mold appears on the timber, treating rooms that can be closed, such as the kitchen or bedrooms, will help reduce germs and odour. For the open space beneath the house, focus on washing, drying and airflow.

2. After the kitchen is treated, is flooded food safe to eat?

No. Food, rice and condiments that touched floodwater must all be thrown away. Ozone is for rooms and surfaces that have been cleaned; it does not make contaminated food safe.

3. Can we stay inside during treatment?

No. The space must be empty of people, pets and plants, and you return only after the rest and ventilation period.

4. Can a market or office building use the service?

Yes. The service covers homes and many types of buildings. Share the floor area, number of rooms or units and how the space is used so the team can plan zone by zone.

5. Does WHD have a branch in Surin?

No. WHD is based in Bang Khae, Bangkok. Service in Phanom Dong Rak and other Surin districts is planned by phone on 065-556-6294 or LINE @whd268, with travel confirmed at the time. Same-day arrival is not guaranteed.

6. How long does it take?

Typically about 30 minutes per zone, excluding preparation and ventilation.

7. If I feel unwell, is ozone enough?

No. Ozone looks after buildings, not illness. Anyone with fever, muscle pain (especially in the calves), diarrhoea or breathing difficulty after flood contact must see a doctor and mention the exposure.

Plan Post-Flood Ozone Disinfection in Phanom Dong Rak, Surin With WHD

Send photos of your home, kitchen, shop or building, with the floor area and village, whether Ban Run, Bakdai, Ban Ta Miang, Ta Miang or elsewhere in Surin, so the team can assess and confirm travel.

See the Ozone Disinfection Service

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

Related Services

• Disinfection service
• Chemgene disinfectant

References

• Matichon (24 Sep 2026): Phanom Dong Rak range runoff and Sai Chok reservoir overflow flood Ban Run and Ban Ta Miang
• Daily News: DDPM flood data, 06.00 on 5 Oct 2026
• Thai PBS: ONWR heavy rain and flash flood warning, 5 to 7 Oct 2026
• CDC: Floods and cleanup safety
• WHO: Fact sheets
• Department of Disease Control, Thailand

Note: details and figures reflect the dates in the reports and change daily.