What happened at Ban Tha Khoi, Dan Makham Tia, in 2026 (B.E. 2569)

According to Krungthep Turakij (Bangkok Biz News), on 30 September 2026 (B.E. 2569) floodwater at Ban Tha Khoi, Moo 2, Klondo subdistrict rose over the roofs of houses and residents had to move to higher ground. The cause was heavy rain combined with releases from the Mae Klong Dam of 2,184 cubic metres per second, expected to peak at up to 2,500 cubic metres per second. On 6 October 2026 (B.E. 2569), the same outlet reported that DDPM sent a Cell Broadcast warning to Nong Phai and Dan Makham Tia subdistricts because the Lam Phachi river kept rising.

When water reaches the roof, everything inside the house is submerged: mattresses, food cupboards, kitchenware, bathrooms and clothes. When it recedes, what remains is a house full of mud, a musty smell and moisture in every corner. This is the moment volunteer work shifts from paddling people out of their homes to helping them move back in safely.

Volunteer work does not end with evacuation

Most people picture rescue volunteers with boats, life jackets and people being carried out of flooded homes. In reality a team's work has several phases.

• Response: evacuating people, older adults, patients and pets from flooded areas.
• Support: distributing food, water, medicine and essentials at evacuation points and shelters.
• Recovery: shovelling mud and washing homes, temples and schools, then disinfecting so residents can return.

Recovery usually lasts the longest and is when volunteer teams are most short of equipment. Most of what a foundation buys is rescue gear such as boats, outboard engines, torches, ropes and first-aid kits. Equipment for sanitation after the water recedes is often borrowed or bought in a hurry.

Rural areas like Dan Makham Tia add further challenges. Houses are spread along the waterways, some roads still carry mud and standing water, electricity has not returned to every home, and some places can only be reached on foot. Whatever a team carries must be tough, must work without mains power and must be portable by one person.

The germs waiting in homes after the water recedes

A house that has been under water to the roof for days collects germs from water that has flowed through toilets, septic tanks, animal pens and the farmland around the village. The main groups are these.

Bacteria

• E. coli, a sign of faecal contamination that easily causes diarrhoea.
• Salmonella, carried on utensils, kitchenware and food that touched floodwater.
• Leptospira, the cause of leptospirosis, found in water contaminated with animal urine and entering the body through cuts or skin soaked for long periods. Volunteers who wade through water for days are directly at risk.

Viruses

• Norovirus and rotavirus, which cause vomiting and diarrhoea and spread through hands and surfaces.
• RSV and influenza, which spread easily in crowded evacuation points and shelters.

Moulds

A house that was fully submerged has soaked walls, ceilings, wood and fabrics. Mould grows quickly if they do not dry in time and can trigger symptoms in people with allergies or asthma. The CDC advises cleaning and drying homes as soon as possible after a flood.

Washing with clean water and detergent removes mud, but germs remain on surfaces. The correct sequence is: remove mud, wash, then apply a properly registered disinfectant according to its label. If a volunteer team has to do this for dozens of houses in a few days, an engine-powered mistblower is what makes it possible.

The problems volunteer teams face when disinfecting a whole village

Few people, lots of work

Most volunteer teams are small and not available every day. Many members have regular jobs and can only help at weekends. Spraying house by house with hand-pump sprayers means one village takes days while other villages wait.

Equipment moves constantly

Teams change location every day. Equipment is lifted on and off pickups, loaded into boats or carried along muddy tracks. Fragile gear or anything that needs long hoses does not suit this work.

Power is not ready

Right after a flood, switching on the power in a house that was under water may not be safe until the electricity authority has checked it. Tools that must be plugged in or charged every night are hard to use.

Volunteer safety

Volunteers working day after day risk cuts, skin infections and leptospirosis. Walking into every damp room with a hand-pump sprayer only lengthens their exposure.

Accountability to donors

Most foundations depend on donations. Donors want to see their money spent on equipment that works, lasts for years and helps many people. Equipment that breaks within one season damages both the budget and public trust.

Why hand-pump sprayers, battery sprayers and waiting for others fall short

• Hand-pump sprayers are cheap and simple, but the tank is small, pressure drops, the operator must pump constantly, droplets are coarse and the reach is short. The operator has to get close to every surface, which is tiring and increases chemical exposure.
• Battery sprayers are handy indoors, but where the power is still off, charging is a big problem, and the airflow is often too weak for a whole house.
• Mops and cloths work on flat floors but not on walls, under roofs, behind cupboards or across large spaces such as temple grounds.
• Waiting for teams from other agencies is slow in a year when many provinces flood at once. Remote villages usually end up at the back of the queue.

What volunteer teams need is an engine-powered machine that one person can carry, that sprays a long way, holds enough liquid to keep going, and stands up to heavy field use.

Meet the SOLO PORT 423 backpack mistblower from Germany

The [SOLO PORT 423](https://www.worldhealthdisinfection.com/en/product/15428-17449/solo-port-423) is an engine-powered backpack mistblower made by SOLO Kleinmotoren GmbH in Germany. Its engine drives a fan that produces a strong air stream, which breaks the liquid into fine droplets and carries them over a distance to coat surfaces. World Health Disinfection (WHD) sells this model in Thailand.

Key specifications according to the manufacturer, SOLO

• Single-cylinder two-stroke engine, displacement 72.3 cm³
• Output 3.0 kW (4.1 HP)
• Spray-liquid tank 12 litres
• Maximum airflow 1,400 m³/h
• Horizontal reach about 12 metres
• Dry weight 11.0 kg
• Sound pressure at the operator 97 dB(A), sound power 110 dB(A)
• Vibration up to 6.3 m/s²

Features according to WHD's product information

• Fuel tank 1.4 litres, electronic ignition and a BING float carburettor
• Key MAHLE parts and a Nikasil-coated cylinder
• Long nozzle with a wide-angle diffuser and a rotatable spray tube
• UV-resistant translucent tank with a wide filler, so the liquid level is easy to see
• One-hand control lever for throttle, dosing and stop
• Padded harness and four-point anti-vibration mounts
• WHD describes the output as ULV with droplets under 30 microns, which saves chemical; actual droplet size depends on the nozzle and settings

Why the SOLO PORT 423 suits volunteer field work

No mains power needed

The two-stroke petrol engine lets a team start spraying straight away in a village where the power is still off. No sockets to find and no batteries to charge overnight.

Goes wherever a person can walk

At 11.0 kg dry, according to SOLO, it is easy to lift onto a pickup and carry down lanes that vehicles cannot enter. Fill the tank once you reach the work site.

Spray from the doorway into the room

Maximum airflow of 1,400 m³/h and a reach of about 12 metres let the operator stand at a door or window and send mist into the room, reducing time spent inside damp spaces.

A large tank for continuous work

The 12-litre tank covers several rooms or houses before a refill, which suits teams trying to finish as much as possible each day.

Large spaces such as temple grounds, halls and schools

Many rural evacuation points are temples, village halls and schools. Once residents go home, these places also need washing and disinfecting, and a machine with strong airflow helps a team cover them quickly.

Teams should always remember that the machine only delivers the chemical; the disinfecting effect comes from the product. Use a properly registered disinfectant such as Chemgene HLD4H, mixed and applied according to its label and SDS every time.

10 reasons rescue foundations and volunteer teams should own a SOLO PORT 423

1. It closes the gap between rescue and recovery. The team that brought people out can also help them return home safely.
2. It works without electricity, ideal for remote villages in the first days after the flood.
3. Strong airflow: a maximum of 1,400 m³/h, according to SOLO.
4. About 12 metres of reach, reducing the time volunteers spend in damp rooms.
5. A 12-litre tank covers several houses per fill.
6. One person can carry it, onto a pickup, into a boat or on foot.
7. Fewer people needed. One or two trained volunteers handle spraying while others shovel mud and wash.
8. Made in Germany with parts from leading suppliers, according to WHD, which suits donor-funded equipment that must last for years.
9. Useful all year, for disinfecting public spaces or insect control according to the chemical's label.
10. A Thai distributor to advise you. Contact [WHD](https://www.worldhealthdisinfection.com/en/product/15428-17449/solo-port-423) about operation, spare parts and a quotation.

Before and after the team has a SOLO PORT 423

Step by step: disinfecting homes and evacuation points after the flood

Before leaving base

1. Coordinate with community leaders and local authorities. Get the list of houses needing help, risk spots, and homes with older adults or patients.
2. Check the machine and equipment. Refuel according to the manufacturer's manual, check the nozzle and harness, and prepare complete protective equipment for everyone.
3. Prepare the disinfectant. Use a properly registered product and always carry its label and SDS.

On site

1. Check the house is safe. Power off or safe, no structural collapse, no hidden venomous animals.
2. Remove mud and damaged items. Mattresses, pillows and carpets soaked for a long time should be thrown away.
3. Wash and clean. Wash floors, lower walls, cupboards and bathrooms with clean water and detergent.
4. Open doors and windows so surfaces begin to dry before spraying.
5. Get people and pets out and tell the owner when they can return according to the chemical label.
6. Put on full protective equipment: ear protection, gloves, goggles or face shield, the respirator the label requires, long sleeves and boots.
7. Work from inside to outside. Start in the innermost room, spray from top to bottom so the mist coats every surface, then back out through the door. Never spray into the wind.

After spraying

1. Keep the house closed for the time on the label, with a clear sign or a direct message to the owner.
2. Clean the machine and store the chemical. Rinse the tank and nozzle according to the manual and keep the chemical in its original labelled container.
3. Clean yourselves. Every volunteer washes hands, showers, changes clothes and treats any wounds immediately.
4. Record work and photos. Note the number of houses, areas and products used for donor reports and the next day's plan.

Safety for volunteers using the SOLO PORT 423

• Protect your hearing. Sound pressure at the operator is 97 dB(A), according to SOLO, so always wear ear muffs or plugs.
• Rotate operators and take breaks. Vibration builds fatigue in hands and arms, so limit each person's continuous operating time.
• Chemical protection according to the label and SDS: chemical-resistant gloves, goggles or face shield, respirator, long sleeves and boots.
• Refuel only with the engine off and cool, away from flames, and never smoke.
• Mind the weight. With a full tank the machine weighs roughly 23 kg or more. Watch out for slippery mud and stairs, and adjust the harness to fit.
• Keep people and animals out of the spray zone, with a second volunteer watching the entrance.
• Follow the re-entry time on the label.
• Train before field use. Operators must read the manual and practise starting, adjusting the dose and stopping the engine.

Looking after the machine between missions

Volunteer equipment often sits in storage for months and is then expected to start first time on the night a flood warning arrives. After each mission, rinse the tank and nozzle according to the manufacturer's manual, wipe mud off the casing, check the harness and store the machine somewhere dry and above flood level. Before the rainy season, appoint one trained member to inspect it, run it briefly and confirm spare parts with the dealer, so the team is never caught with a machine that will not start.

How a foundation can acquire a machine, and the alternative if it is not ready

Foundations and volunteer groups can fund a machine in several ways: general donations, a specific appeal for recovery equipment, or sponsorship from a company running a social responsibility programme. Request a SOLO PORT 423 quotation from WHD by phone or LINE to support internal approval or a sponsor request. Pricing depends on quantity and terms, so no figures are given here.

If an organisation is not ready to buy and needs a professional team to treat key sites such as schools or shelters, it can choose WHD's disinfection service as a separate option.

FAQ: SOLO PORT 423 for volunteer teams and rescue foundations

How much is the SOLO PORT 423, and can a foundation get a quotation?

WHD does not publish a price online. Foundations and agencies can request a quotation on 065-556-6294 or LINE @whd268.

Can an engine-powered backpack sprayer work without electricity?

Yes. The SOLO PORT 423 has a two-stroke petrol engine and needs no mains power or battery.

How heavy is it, and can one person carry it?

It weighs 11.0 kg dry, according to SOLO, and roughly 23 kg or more with a full tank. Rotate carriers and rest regularly.

How far does it spray?

About 12 metres horizontally, according to SOLO. Actual reach depends on wind and settings.

Is the SOLO PORT 423 a thermal fogger?

No. It is a mistblower that uses an air stream and does not heat the liquid the way a thermal fogger does.

Do we need to wash the house before disinfecting?

Yes. Always remove mud and clean first, then apply disinfectant.

Which disinfectant should we use?

A properly registered disinfectant used according to its label, such as Chemgene HLD4H, sold by WHD.

What protective equipment do volunteers need?

Ear protection, chemical-resistant gloves, goggles or a face shield, a respirator as required by the label, long sleeves and boots.

Can it be used in shelters or evacuation points?

Yes, once evacuees have left and the area has been washed. Spray only when nobody is inside and wait for the label's re-entry time before reopening.

Get your volunteer team ready for post-flood recovery

Request a quotation and ask about field use, spare parts and suitable disinfectants. The WHD team is happy to advise.

View SOLO PORT 423 and request a quote

Call 065-556-6294 | LINE @whd268

Further reading and references

• SOLO PORT 423 backpack mistblower against dengue for municipalities and SAOs (Thai)
• Spraying against emerging diseases with the SOLO PORT 423 for provincial public health offices (Thai)
• Chemgene HLD4H disinfectant
• WHD disinfection service
• Local news: Bangkok Biz News, 30 September 2026 (B.E. 2569) and Bangkok Biz News, 6 October 2026 (B.E. 2569); national data: PRD, DDPM figures of 7 October 2026 (B.E. 2569)
• Post-flood advice: CDC and Department of Disease Control