The 2026 Sam Khok Flood: Sala Daeng Nuea Community and Wat Metarang

According to a Siam Rath report dated 29 September 2026, the Sala Daeng Nuea community, Moo 2, Chiang Rak Noi, Sam Khok had been under water for six days, with water roughly 70 centimetres deep. Residents had to travel by boat, and the level rose again whenever high tides pushed back up the river. Then on 4 October 2026, Ban Muang reported that an earth embankment had failed, letting water from the Chao Phraya River pour into Wat Metarang at a depth of around 50 centimetres, and the temple closed temporarily. The causes cited were increased discharge from the Chao Phraya Dam, accumulated rainfall and high tides.

Nationally, the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) reported as of 06.00 on 7 October 2026 that 27 provinces plus Bangkok were affected, covering 123 districts, 984 subdistricts, 1,154,875 households and more than 3.1 million people. These figures change daily, so readers should always follow the latest local announcements.

What makes Sam Khok homes especially prone to mold is how long the water stayed. A house that sits in water for six days or more absorbs moisture deep into plaster, timber and fabric. Even after the water drops, the air along the Chao Phraya at the end of the rainy season stays very humid. Curtains hung near windows, window sills that collect condensation every morning, and wooden frames that soaked up water all become ideal places for black spot mold within days.

Example Case: A Riverside Home Where the Curtains Turned Spotty

The following is a typical scenario based on situations commonly seen after floods. It is not an interview with a real person.

Auntie Noi, in her sixties, lives in a two-storey wooden house in a community in Chiang Rak Noi. When the water reached knee height, she moved upstairs with her two grandchildren and kept the ground-floor doors and windows shut almost all the time, worried about water and snakes. When the water finally dropped the following week, she came down to find her cream cotton curtains, used for years, covered in tiny black dots along the hem. The wooden window sill had a long dark streak, and the rubber seal on the sliding window had black dots embedded deep in the groove that would not wipe away.

She tried wiping with dish soap. The spots faded a little but did not disappear, and three days later they were back. A musty smell, like laundry that never dried properly, settled over the whole ground floor. Her younger grandchild, who has a history of allergies, started sneezing in bursts every morning, with a blocked nose and itchy eyes. She ran a fan all day and sprayed air freshener, but the smells just mixed into something worse. Eventually her son, who works in Bangkok, searched for ozone disinfection in Pathum Thani and asked for advice.

What Is Cladosporium Black Mold?

Cladosporium is a genus of fungi found all over the world, both outdoors and indoors, and it is one of the molds most frequently detected in air samples. Its spores are tiny, travel far on the wind, and enter homes through windows, doors, vents, clothing and even shoes that have walked through mud. When spores land on a surface with enough moisture, they germinate into thread-like hyphae and form colonies that look like dark olive-green to black spots.

It is important to understand that black spots are not always Cladosporium. Several other dark-coloured molds look similar, and confirming the exact species requires sampling and laboratory testing. In practice, whichever black mold it is, the approach is the same: cut off the moisture source, remove badly damaged materials, clean, dry, and reduce spores in the air.

Where Black Spot Mold Hides in a Flooded Home

After the water drops, many homes in Sam Khok see black mold return to the same places again and again, because these are the spots where moisture lingers longest. Walk through your home with this list.

• Curtains, especially the bottom hem, which may have touched floodwater or damp floors, and the back of curtains pressed against glass where condensation forms every morning.
• Window sills and wooden frames. Wood that soaked up water releases moisture slowly for weeks, and spots appear along grain lines and joints.
• Rubber seals and silicone on sliding windows, window tracks and around sinks, where mold clings tightly and is hard to wipe off.
• Lower sections of plaster walls below the old waterline, plus the wall behind wardrobes and beds where air does not move.
• Blinds, roller shades and sofa covers, which are fibrous and trap dust.
• Air conditioner vents and cooling coils. If the unit sat in a damp room for a long time, mold may grow inside and blow spores out every time it runs.
• Bathrooms and ceiling boards, especially tile grout, bathroom door frames and ceiling panels with water stains.
• Wardrobes and storage boxes that stayed closed during the flood. A musty smell is often the first warning before you see any spots.

Symptoms Linked to Indoor Black Mold: Sneezing, Blocked Nose, Itchy Eyes and Post-Flood Allergies

Cladosporium is well known in medicine as a common allergen. When spores and fragments of hyphae are inhaled, they can trigger the immune system in sensitive people. Symptoms that families commonly describe after a flood include:

• Repeated bursts of sneezing, especially in the morning or on entering a room that was closed for a long time.
• A blocked or runny nose, itchy nose and itchy throat.
• Itchy, red or watery eyes.
• A dry cough, or a cough that lingers after the water has gone.
• Wheezing or chest tightness in people who already have asthma.
• Itchy rashes or skin irritation after handling moldy fabric.

People who should take extra care include young children, older adults, pregnant women, anyone with asthma or allergies, people with chronic lung disease, and people with weakened immunity, such as those receiving chemotherapy or immune-suppressing medication. For these groups, moving back into a heavily moldy room can easily make symptoms flare.

Please remember that this article is not medical advice. If anyone has difficulty breathing, wheezing that will not settle, coughs up blood, has a high fever, or does not improve after leaving the moldy room, see a doctor promptly and mention that the home was recently flooded and has mold. Separately from mold, anyone who waded through floodwater and then develops a fever and calf pain should consider leptospirosis and see a doctor as well.

Why the 2026 Sam Khok Flood Made Black Mold Spread So Fast

International health bodies such as WHO and CDC agree that homes should be cleaned and dried as quickly as possible after a flood, because mold can begin growing within 24 to 48 hours while materials stay wet. In a community like Sala Daeng Nuea, which stayed under water for several days, homes were not wet for just a day or two. They soaked for nearly a week, so moisture penetrated far deeper than in a house flooded for a few hours.

Another factor is the high tide, which makes water levels rise and fall in cycles. A wall that has started to dry may get wet again, and indoor humidity stays high almost all the time. Curtains near windows absorb moisture both from the air and from the wall. Add the fine silt and sediment that floodwater leaves along window ledges, and you have a ready-made food supply for mold.

Why Wiping, Fans or Air Freshener Alone Are Not Enough

The first things most people try after spotting black mold usually help only partly, and some can make the problem worse without meaning to.

• Wiping with general cleaner removes surface stains, but if the material is still damp, hyphae buried in wood grain, grout or fabric fibres will grow back.
• Using bleach on everything makes stains look whiter on hard surfaces, but it is not suitable for wood and porous materials, and it must never be mixed with ammonia or certain toilet cleaners because dangerous gases can form.
• Pointing a fan at the mold blows dry spores all over the house. It is better to open windows for cross-ventilation and use exhaust fans than to blow air straight at mold.
• Air freshener or scented candles only cover the smell. The musty odour is still there, and some fragrances irritate the airways of people with allergies.
• Painting over moldy walls. If the wall is still damp, the paint will blister and mold will push through again within months.
• Washing curtains and drying them in the shade. If fabric does not dry completely within a day, mold can come straight back.

What Ozone Treatment Is and How It Helps With Black Mold and Musty Odours

Ozone (O3) is a form of oxygen with three atoms. It is a highly reactive oxidiser. When released into a sealed room at a controlled concentration, ozone reacts with the cell structures of microorganisms and with odour molecules. Afterwards it breaks down back into oxygen (O2), so it leaves no chemical residue on surfaces.

According to the company's certification data, World Health Disinfection (WHD) residential ozone disinfection has been tested by Thailand's Department of Medical Sciences and Intertek (UK), with stated effectiveness of 99.99% against viruses, bacteria and fungi under test conditions. You can ask WHD to see the test details.

To be clear, those results cover the virus, bacteria and fungi groups the company lists. They are not a test against Cladosporium in any particular home, so we do not claim ozone removes this specific mold completely in every situation. If you want more detailed test data, please ask WHD directly.

In real post-flood use, ozone fits these roles:

• Helping reduce mold spores and microbes floating in the air of a closed room after surfaces have been cleaned.
• Reaching exposed surfaces that are hard to get to, such as the tops of wardrobes, ceiling corners and behind furniture that cannot be moved.
• Breaking down musty, earthy, damp-fabric and drain odour molecules instead of masking them with fragrance.

What ozone does not do: it does not replace removing soaked and heavily moldy materials such as gypsum board, carpet, mattresses or curtains with deep mold growth. It does not fix leaks, does not dry walls, does not penetrate deep inside wood or plaster, and does not remove mycotoxins that may remain. Ozone is a supporting step after cleaning and drying, not a shortcut that replaces them.

Ozone Safety: Is Ozone Treatment Dangerous?

The most common question is whether ozone is dangerous. At disinfection concentrations, ozone is a gas that irritates the airways, so it must be used in a room that is empty of people, pets and plants, and kept closed during treatment. After the cycle, the room must rest so the ozone can break down, then be ventilated as the technician advises before anyone goes back in. Following these steps, ozone treatment by an experienced team is a method whose safety can be controlled.

• Everyone, including older adults, children and pets, leaves the area being treated.
• Remove plants, fish tanks and opened food.
• Keep doors and windows closed during treatment and never open the room mid-cycle.
• Re-enter only after the technician confirms the rest and ventilation period is over.
• People with asthma or lung disease should wait until the room is well ventilated and no ozone smell remains.

WHD's Post-Flood Ozone Process for Homes in Sam Khok, Pathum Thani

WHD is based in Bang Khae, Bangkok 10160, and has no branch in Pathum Thani. Service in Sam Khok and Chiang Rak Noi is planned by phone or LINE first, to confirm the area, date, time and travel. The usual sequence is:

1. Survey and assessment. Send photos of rooms, curtains, window frames and moldy areas via LINE. The technician reviews floor area, number of rooms, the old waterline and damaged materials, and advises what to discard or wash first.
2. Mud removal, cleaning and drying. The homeowner or a cleaning team removes mud, washes floors, wipes walls, takes curtains down to wash or discard, scrubs mold off hard surfaces and ventilates until materials are dry. This is the most important step and always comes before ozone.
3. Empty and seal the room. People, pets, plants and food leave the room. Doors and windows are closed, and vents leading to occupied rooms are blocked.
4. Ozone cycle. The technician sets up the equipment and controls the cycle, about 30 minutes per zone depending on room size and conditions.
5. Rest and ventilate. The room rests while ozone reverts to oxygen, then doors and windows are opened for airflow as the technician advises.
6. Re-entry and follow-up care. Once the technician confirms it is fine to go in, keep windows open regularly, control humidity and watch the old mold spots for at least two to three weeks.

Pricing depends on floor area, number of rooms and the extent of damage, so every job is quoted individually. If you are searching for an ozone treatment price, send photos and room sizes to LINE @whd268 for a quote. The company's current promotion: ozone jobs worth 15,000 baht or more receive a free medical-grade disinfectant spray.

10 Reasons to Add Ozone After Dealing With Black Mold in a Flooded Sam Khok Home

1. It helps reduce airborne spores stirred up while taking down curtains and scrubbing window frames, something wiping cannot do.
2. It reaches corners hands cannot, such as the tops of wardrobes, under beds and ceiling corners, because it spreads as a gas.
3. It tackles musty odour at the source rather than covering it. See the WHD ozone disinfection service.
4. It leaves no chemical residue, because ozone reverts to oxygen, which suits bedrooms and children's rooms.
5. It comes with reference testing, according to the company's certification from the Department of Medical Sciences and Intertek.
6. Each zone takes little time, about 30 minutes per zone, making it easier to plan when to move back in.
7. It completes the recovery sequence after cleaning and drying, giving more confidence before children and older adults return.
8. It suits many building types: riverside wooden houses, concrete homes, rental rooms, shops, and temples or halls open to the public. Learn about ozone treatment for flooded homes.
9. Technicians guide you on safety, from preparing an empty room to the moment you can go back in.
10. It helps you plan the whole recovery. Technicians point out where moisture remains or which materials should be replaced before you book ozone disinfection in Pathum Thani.

Before and After: A Home With Black Mold After a Flood

Recovery Checklist for Black Mold After a Flood, Before and After Ozone

Before ozone

• Wear an N95 mask, rubber gloves and eye protection when taking down curtains or scrubbing mold.
• Separate soaked or deeply moldy curtains, covers and mattresses; bag them before carrying them out.
• Wash salvageable fabric with detergent and dry it in strong sun within a day.
• Scrub window sills, frames, rubber seals and grout with a brush and soapy water, then dry.
• Remove soaked, heavily moldy gypsum board, carpet or wall panels.
• Check and fix leaks in the roof and pipes.
• Open windows and use exhaust fans or dehumidifiers until materials are dry.
• Have the air conditioner inspected and cleaned if it sat in a damp room.

During and after ozone

• Keep the room empty of people, pets and plants, with doors and windows closed for the whole cycle.
• Re-enter only when the technician confirms rest and ventilation are complete.
• Open windows daily and wipe morning condensation off the glass.
• Keep indoor humidity down and avoid drying laundry in closed rooms.
• Watch the old spots for two to three weeks; if mold returns, find the moisture source first.
• If allergies or asthma flare, see a doctor.

FAQ: Black Mold, Black Spots and Ozone Treatment After Floods

Is black spot mold on curtains dangerous?

For most people it causes irritation, but for those with allergies or asthma, spores from black molds such as Cladosporium can trigger sneezing, congestion, itchy eyes and asthma flares. Deeply moldy curtains should be discarded or washed and dried completely.

How do I get rid of black mold on window sills so it does not come back?

Scrub with a brush and soapy water, dry thoroughly, replace worn seals or silicone, and stop the moisture source such as condensation or leaks. Then ozone-treat the empty room to reduce airborne spores and musty odour.

Why do I sneeze every morning since the flood? Is it mold?

It may be. If symptoms are worse indoors and better outside, check bedrooms and curtains for mold, control humidity, and see a doctor if symptoms do not improve or breathing becomes difficult.

Can ozone remove black mold?

According to the company's certification data, WHD ozone treatment was tested against virus, bacteria and fungi groups at 99.99% under test conditions, but not specifically against Cladosporium. Ozone works best after cleaning and drying, to reduce airborne spores and odour. Ask WHD for test data.

Is ozone treatment dangerous, and how long do we need to stay out?

The room must be empty of people, pets and plants during treatment. A cycle is about 30 minutes per zone, followed by rest and ventilation as the technician advises. Total time depends on the number of rooms.

How much does ozone treatment cost?

It is quoted by floor area, number of rooms and site conditions. Send photos and room sizes to LINE @whd268 or call 065-556-6294 for a quote.

Is there ozone service near me in Sam Khok, Pathum Thani?

WHD is based in Bang Khae, Bangkok, with no Pathum Thani branch, but you can contact the team by phone or LINE to plan the job and confirm travel to Sam Khok and Chiang Rak Noi. Same-day arrival cannot be guaranteed.

Do I need to clean and dry the house before ozone?

Yes. Remove mud, wash, scrub mold, discard soaked porous materials with heavy mold, and dry everything first. Ozone does not replace these steps and does not penetrate deep inside materials.

Black Spot Mold and Musty Odour in Your Sam Khok Home After the 2026 Flood? Talk to WHD

Send photos of rooms, curtains and window frames so the team can help plan the recovery order before ozone treatment of an empty, dry room.

See WHD Ozone Disinfection

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

Related Links and References

• WHD residential and building ozone disinfection
• Ozone cleaning service
• Test certificates
• Siam Rath (29 Sep 2026): Sala Daeng Nuea, Sam Khok under water for six days
• Ban Muang (4 Oct 2026): Embankment fails, Chao Phraya floods Wat Metarang
• Government Public Relations Department: DDPM flood data as of 7 Oct 2026
• CDC: Floods and cleanup safety
• WHO fact sheets
• Department of Disease Control, Thailand

Note: flood figures refer to the dates stated in news and DDPM reports and change daily. Health information is general knowledge, not diagnosis or treatment.