The Map Yang Phon Runoff Flood, Pluak Daeng, 2026 (B.E. 2569)

According to Siamrath Online on 25 September 2026 (B.E. 2569), heavy rain fell through the night in Pluak Daeng district, Rayong. Runoff from the Phatthana reservoir at Moo 5, Map Yang Phon subdistrict, poured into the community without stopping. The report warned that water could rise further if the rain continued and advised people to avoid flooded roads (source: Siamrath, 25 Sep 2026 / 2569).

The national picture in 2026 (B.E. 2569) was just as serious. Data from the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM), as of 06:00 on 7 October 2026 (B.E. 2569) and published by the Government Public Relations Department, showed flooding in 27 provinces plus Bangkok, covering 123 districts, 984 subdistricts and 1,154,875 households, with more than 3.1 million people affected (source: PRD, DDPM data, 7 Oct 2026 / 2569).

Pluak Daeng mixes communities, factories and farmland. Many orchards, vegetable plots and greenhouses sit on low ground or near waterways. When runoff arrives fast, the damage is not only to trees. Mud, silt, rubbish and contaminated water flow into greenhouses, packing sheds, fertiliser stores and worker housing, which are exactly the places people must walk back into every day once the water drops.

Example Case: An Orchard and Greenhouse After the Runoff

The story below is an illustrative example built from situations that are common on eastern Thai farms after flash runoff. It is not the account of any specific real person.

Somchai (not his real name) runs a mixed orchard of several dozen rai near Pluak Daeng, with durian, mangosteen and rambutan. Behind the orchard are three salad greenhouses his daughter recently set up to supply restaurants in town. Next to them is a small sorting shed with grading tables, hundreds of plastic crates and a store room for fertiliser and tools. Further along are two worker houses where about ten workers and their families live.

On the night the rain would not stop, water from the slope above rushed down. By morning, dark brown mud stood almost knee-deep on the greenhouse floors. Some growing benches had tipped over, and crates had floated into a pile in one corner of the shed. By day two a sour smell hung over everything, because the water had carried plant debris, animal droppings and rubbish from upstream.

When the water receded, everyone shovelled mud and hosed down surfaces. Then the real problems began. The fruit buyer wanted confirmation that the sorting shed and crates were clean before collecting again. The restaurants asked whether the greenhouse produce was safe. Workers developed sores on their feet from wading. Somchai had only two hand-pump knapsack sprayers, so the team sprayed one spot at a time and refilled every few minutes. Three days later they still had not covered every greenhouse, and nobody was sure the disinfectant had reached the roof frames, the gaps in the steel structure or the space under the benches.

This is the point where many farms realise that an engine-powered backpack mistblower with strong airflow, kept on the farm, could turn several days of post-flood disinfection into one day, and spare workers from pumping a lever all day long.

The Germs Floodwater Brings onto Farms

Floodwater on farmland is not just rain. It has run across roads, through villages, animal pens, compost heaps and drains, so it carries several groups of germs that health authorities regularly warn about:

• Bacteria such as E. coli and Salmonella from human and animal faeces, which cause diarrhoea and food poisoning, and Leptospira, the cause of leptospirosis, found in water and mud contaminated with the urine of rats and other animals. It can enter the body through cuts or skin softened by long soaking.
• Viruses such as norovirus and rotavirus, which cause diarrhoea. Respiratory viruses such as RSV and influenza spread more easily when people crowd together during evacuation or in shared worker housing.
• Moulds that grow fast on wood, paper, fruit crates, fertiliser sacks and any surface left damp for more than 24 to 48 hours, causing musty smells and triggering allergy or asthma symptoms in sensitive people.

On orchards and in greenhouses, the surfaces that touch produce directly deserve the most attention: grading tables, crates, plastic boxes, pruning shears and trolleys. If flood germs remain on them, produce could carry them to consumers. Worker housing, toilets and canteens are where the farm's own people are most exposed.

Anyone who develops high fever, headache, muscle pain (especially in the calves), red eyes or diarrhoea after wading through water or mud should see a doctor and mention the flood exposure. Disinfecting work areas reduces environmental risk. It does not replace medical care.

The Real Pain for Orchard and Greenhouse Owners

More area than you expect

A single greenhouse can cover several hundred square metres of steel frame, film, netting, benches and gutters, all needing treatment. Add the sorting shed, tool store and worker housing, and a farm has many times the area of an ordinary home.

Too few hands

After a flood, workers must do everything at once: rescue trees, drain plots, repair irrigation and harvest what is left. Taking two or three people off those jobs to pump knapsack sprayers all day is a heavy labour cost.

Time is income

Some fruits have short harvest windows, and salad greenhouses need replanting as fast as possible. Every day the shed or greenhouse cannot run is lost income, and buyers may turn to other suppliers.

Buyers want reassurance

Fruit collectors, wholesale markets and restaurants are likely to ask about the cleanliness of sheds and containers after a flood, especially for farms working under Good Agricultural Practice systems that stress hygiene of premises and equipment. A clear cleaning and disinfection routine lets you answer with confidence.

Worker and family health

Flooded worker housing often shelters children and older relatives. If bathrooms, kitchens and sleeping areas still hold mould and bacteria, people may keep falling ill, leaving even fewer hands for recovery.

The farm's reputation

Farms that sell fruit online or straight to restaurants build their names on freshness, cleanliness and trust. A report that customers fell ill after eating produce from the farm during the flood could cost more than the water damage itself.

Why Hand Pumps, Buckets and Hoses Fall Short

Most farms already own basic tools, but their limits show quickly on a large post-flood job:

• Hand-pump knapsack sprayers give low, uneven pressure. Droplets are large and drop to the floor fast, reach only a short distance and force the operator into every corner. Pumping all day is exhausting.
• Pouring disinfectant from buckets or watering cans wastes product, leaves floors wet for a long time and cannot reach walls, roof frames or the underside of benches.
• Running disinfectant through a hose works for washing mud away but not for disinfecting. The dose is hard to control, the solution ends up weaker than the label requires, and most of it runs into the soil.
• Small battery sprayers are handy at home, but the tanks are small, airflow is too weak to carry droplets far and batteries may run flat before the job ends. With power still out after a flood, charging becomes another problem.
• Hose-reel agricultural sprayers suit open fields but are awkward to drag through sheds, houses and cluttered greenhouses.

What post-flood farm work really needs is a machine you can carry easily, with airflow strong enough to throw droplets far and push them into gaps, a tank large enough for long runs, and no dependence on mains power or hoses.

SOLO PORT 423: The Answer for Large-Area Farm Disinfection

The SOLO PORT 423 is an engine-powered backpack mistblower made by SOLO Kleinmotoren GmbH in Germany. A high-volume fan blows the liquid leaving the tank into fine droplets and carries them out in a long stream that coats surfaces across a wide area. WHD sells the unit to government agencies and large organisations, and it suits farms with a lot of ground to cover.

Key specifications (according to SOLO manufacturer data)

• Single-cylinder two-stroke engine, 72.3 cm³ displacement
• Power 3.0 kW (4.1 HP)
• 12-litre spray-liquid tank
• Maximum airflow 1,400 m³/h
• Horizontal reach about 12 m
• Dry weight about 11.0 kg
• Sound pressure at the operator 97 dB(A)

Features according to WHD product information

According to WHD's product information, the unit produces fine ULV-type droplets under 30 microns, which helps save chemical. It uses MAHLE and BING components and a Nikasil-coated cylinder, and has a UV-resistant translucent tank with a wide filler, a rotatable spray tube, a long nozzle plus a wide-angle diffuser, a one-hand control lever for throttle, dosing and stop, a padded harness and four-point anti-vibration mounts. Actual droplet size depends on the nozzle and settings used. Other optional kits exist in the SOLO range; ask the dealer.

Not a thermal fogger

Many people search for "fogging machine", but the SOLO PORT 423 is not a thermal fogger. A thermal fogger uses heat to turn the liquid into a visible smoke-like fog. The SOLO PORT 423 uses fan air to break the liquid into droplets without heating it, which suits disinfectant work where droplets should settle on and coat surfaces, using water-based products as their labels allow.

The chemical does the disinfecting; the machine delivers it

The sprayer's job is to deliver disinfectant evenly over surfaces. Germ control depends on the product you choose. Use a registered disinfectant mixed and applied according to its label, such as Chemgene HLD4H, which WHD sells. Always remove mud and dirt first, because soil reduces the performance of almost every disinfectant.

10 Reasons Orchards and Greenhouses Should Own a SOLO PORT 423

1. About 12 m horizontal reach according to SOLO manufacturer data, so droplets reach greenhouse roof frames and shed walls without ladders.
2. 1,400 m³/h of airflow pushes droplets into steel-frame gaps, under benches and between stacked crates, where hand pumps cannot reach.
3. A 12-litre tank gives long runs between refills.
4. No mains power needed. The petrol engine keeps working while the grid is still down.
5. Backpack mobility through greenhouses, between plots, into worker housing and tool stores, with no hose to drag.
6. Fine droplets, according to WHD product information, use less product than pouring or hosing and leave floors less soaked.
7. German engineering with MAHLE and BING parts, built for heavy use in the rainy season.
8. Year-round value. Beyond flood recovery it supports routine sanitation of sheds and greenhouses, with the right product for each job.
9. One-hand control of engine speed and liquid flow helps avoid over-application.
10. Your team works on your schedule instead of waiting for contractors when the whole district needs help at once. For details, contact WHD about the unit.

Before and After a SOLO PORT 423 on the Farm

These outcomes compare typical working patterns. Real speed depends on site size, clutter, operator skill and the application rate on the product label.

Step by Step: Disinfecting Greenhouses and Orchard Buildings After Floodwater Recedes

Step 1: Check safety before entering

Inspect wiring, pumps and power lines in the greenhouse first. Switch off breakers if water is still standing. Watch for snakes and centipedes hiding in piles. Always wear boots and rubber gloves.

Step 2: Remove and sort contents

Carry out crates, boxes, fertiliser sacks and growing media. Throw away porous items such as paper, cartons, media bags and heavily mouldy wood. Produce that sat in floodwater should not be sold or eaten.

Step 3: Shovel mud and wash thoroughly

Remove as much mud as possible, then wash floors, benches, grading tables, crates and walls with clean water and detergent, scrubbing the gaps. Disinfection only works well on clean surfaces.

Step 4: Ventilate and dry

Open greenhouse curtains and shed doors and windows, and use fans. The faster things dry, the less chance mould has to grow.

Step 5: Prepare the product and the machine

Choose a registered disinfectant suited to the surfaces, such as Chemgene HLD4H, and mix at the label rate. Read the safety data sheet. Refuel only with the engine off and cool, outdoors and away from flames, then check the harness, nozzle and tank cap.

Step 6: Clear people and animals

Move workers, children and pets out of the zone. Cover or remove produce, seed, seedlings and food. Put up "keep out" signs.

Step 7: Spray top to bottom, inside to outside

Start with the roof frame and upper walls, then benches, grading tables and floors. Walk backwards away from treated areas, never back into wet mist, never spray into the wind, and keep surfaces wet for the contact time on the label.

Step 8: Respect contact and re-entry times

Let the product work for the labelled time, then ventilate. For food-contact surfaces, follow the label on whether a clean-water rinse is needed before use.

Step 9: Clean the machine and log the job

Rinse the tank and nozzle with clean water as the manual directs. Record the date, area, product, mix rate and operator, and keep it for buyers or auditors.

Step 10: Watch for mould and re-treat as needed

Check for musty smells and mould spots over the next one to two weeks. Wash and spot-treat any area that stays damp or shows new growth.

Farm-Specific Points to Remember

• Keep disinfection and crop protection separate. Surface disinfectants are not plant protection products and should not be sprayed on crops or fruit for harvest unless the label clearly allows it. If one machine does both jobs, clean the tank and system thoroughly before switching products.
• Care with grading tables and produce containers. Choose a product labelled for food-contact surfaces and follow any rinse step.
• Protect water sources. Never rinse tanks into ponds, orchard ditches or public waterways.
• Seedlings and growing media should be moved out or covered, as some disinfectants can scorch leaves.
• Store chemicals and fuel away from fertiliser and animal feed, above the flood line for the next rainy season.

Safety When Using the SOLO PORT 423

• Hearing protection. Sound pressure at the operator is 97 dB(A) according to SOLO manufacturer data. Operators must wear earmuffs or earplugs, and people nearby should be protected too.
• Vibration and working time. Even with WHD's stated four-point anti-vibration mounts, limit continuous spraying, rotate operators and take regular breaks.
• Chemical PPE. Wear chemical-resistant gloves, goggles or a face shield, a respirator suited to the product label, long sleeves or coveralls and boots, as the product's SDS requires.
• Refuelling. Stop the engine and let it cool first. Refuel outdoors away from flames and cigarettes, and wipe up spills.
• Weight. About 11 kg dry and roughly 23 kg or more with a full 12-litre tank. Adjust the harness, lift with good posture or get help, and watch for slippery mud.
• Keep people and animals out of the spray zone, and never point the nozzle at people, animals, water sources or food.
• Re-entry times on the product label must be followed strictly.
• Ventilation. Petrol engines produce exhaust. In enclosed rooms such as closed stores or sheds, open doors and windows.
• Training. Operators should learn starting, dose adjustment, stopping and cleaning before real work.

Buy Your Own Unit or Hire a Disinfection Service?

For farms with large areas, ongoing sanitation needs and land that floods repeatedly, a SOLO PORT 423 on site means faster response on your own timetable, with no waiting while the whole district competes for help, and continued use for routine hygiene.

If you would rather not invest in a machine, or want specialists to handle an occasional job, WHD's disinfection service is a separate option you can contact directly.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the SOLO PORT 423 price?

It depends on configuration and quantity. Ask WHD for a quotation on 065-556-6294 or LINE @whd268, or see the SOLO PORT 423 product page.

Can a backpack mistblower disinfect a greenhouse after a flood?

Yes, when used with a registered disinfectant applied according to its label, after mud has been removed and surfaces cleaned. The machine spreads the product evenly over a large area.

How is the SOLO PORT 423 different from a hand-pump knapsack sprayer?

It uses an engine and fan with airflow up to 1,400 m³/h and reach of about 12 m, according to SOLO manufacturer data. A hand pump relies on muscle power, sprays a short distance and makes larger droplets, so it suits small spot jobs.

Is the SOLO PORT 423 a fogging machine?

No. It is an air-driven mistblower and does not heat the liquid into smoke like a thermal fogger.

Can I use the SOLO PORT 423 for crop protection products?

Backpack mistblowers are used in agriculture, but use only products registered for that crop, follow the label, and clean the tank fully when switching between disinfectant and farm chemicals.

Can I spray disinfectant on fruit still on the tree?

Not unless the product label allows it. Fruit that sat in floodwater should not be sold or eaten. Fruit that never touched the water should be washed as usual before packing.

How heavy is the SOLO PORT 423 with a full tank?

About 11.0 kg dry according to SOLO manufacturer data, and roughly 23 kg or more with 12 litres of liquid, so fit the harness well and rotate operators.

What protective equipment is needed?

Hearing protection, chemical-resistant gloves, goggles, a suitable respirator, long sleeves or coveralls and boots, according to the product label and SDS.

When can workers go back into a treated greenhouse?

Follow the re-entry time on the product label and ventilate before work resumes.

Is there a service if I do not want to buy?

Yes. WHD's disinfection service is a separate option. Call 065-556-6294 or LINE @whd268.

Get Your Orchard and Greenhouses Clean Again Faster with the SOLO PORT 423

A German backpack mistblower with a 12-litre tank, 1,400 m³/h airflow and about 12 m reach, according to SOLO manufacturer data, so your farm team can apply post-flood disinfectant on its own schedule.

For a quotation or advice, call 065-556-6294 | LINE @whd268

Related Reading and References

• SOLO PORT 423 backpack mistblower for dengue control by municipalities and TAOs (Thai)
• SOLO PORT 423 against emerging disease for provincial public health offices (Thai)
• Chemgene HLD4H disinfectant
• WHD disinfection service
• Siamrath: Phatthana reservoir runoff floods Map Yang Phon, 25 Sep 2026 / 2569
• PRD: flood situation, DDPM data, 7 Oct 2026 / 2569
• CDC: floods and health