The Pom Phet, Ayutthaya Island Flood of 2026 (B.E. 2569)

According to TopNews, on 3 October 2026 (B.E. 2569) water from the Chao Phraya spilled over the riverside at Pom Phet, the historic fort at the confluence of the Chao Phraya and Pa Sak rivers on Ayutthaya island, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya district. The water was almost 1 metre deep. A powerful whirlpool at the confluence pushed water over the western defence line. At the time the Chao Phraya Dam was releasing about 2,500 cubic metres per second and the Rama VI Dam 616 cubic metres per second, and the Fine Arts Department reinforced flood barriers from Wat Chaiwatthanaram to Wat Phanan Choeng.

Travel on Ayutthaya island has always been tied to the river: cross-river ferries, round-island tour boats, songthaew, vans and buses carrying both tourists and workers. When water rises almost a metre along the banks, pontoons, ramps, parking areas and waiting shelters close to the river are affected. When it falls, it leaves mud, musty smells and germs nobody can see.

Nationally, Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) figures as of 06.00 on 7 October 2026 (B.E. 2569), published by the Government Public Relations Department, listed 27 provinces plus Bangkok as affected, covering 123 districts and 984 subdistricts, with 1,154,875 households and more than 3.1 million people affected. Many of those people still need to get to work, to hospital or to relatives. Transport points must reopen quickly, and they must not become a source of infection themselves.

Example Case: A Ferry Pier That Must Open Before 6 a.m.

The following is an illustrative example drawn from common situations. It does not describe any particular pier or station.

Khun Toi runs a small cross-river ferry pier on Ayutthaya island. Her regular passengers are market vendors, schoolchildren, factory workers and tourists visiting riverside temples. When the Chao Phraya rose, the pier closed for several days. The pontoon was partly underwater, the concrete ramp held a hand's depth of mud, the waiting shelter was littered with wood, plastic bags and water plants, and the toilet behind the pier had sewage backing up.

When the water started to fall, the local authority said the pier could reopen in two days. Khun Toi had two staff, mops, buckets and one hand-pump sprayer. The three of them washed mud from morning to night, but when it came to spraying disinfectant they realised the area was far too large for a hand pump in the time they had: the shelter, the railings, the long benches, the pontoon, three boats and the toilet.

On reopening day, passengers complained about the musty smell and some refused to sit on the benches. A group of foreign tourists photographed mud stains on the handrails and posted them online. A few days later, one of the staff developed diarrhoea, and Khun Toi had to sell tickets herself all day.

That experience convinced her that next flood season the pier needs a sprayer that works fast, does not need a power cable run down to the water's edge, and can reach the shelter roof and the boats without climbing. It is the same reason many station and pier managers start looking at the SOLO PORT 423.

Why Transport Points Carry Higher Infection Risk After Floods

Water that floods a riverside area is not only dam release water. It also carries water from drains, septic tanks, markets and riverside communities. After it recedes, several groups of germs remain on surfaces.

Bacteria

• E. coli, a sign of faecal contamination, causing diarrhoea and stomach pain.
• Leptospira, which causes leptospirosis. Staff who wade in to clean pontoons and ramps are at risk, especially with cuts on feet or legs.
• Salmonella, carried by contaminated food and water; food stalls in stations need extra care.

Viruses

• Norovirus and rotavirus, spread when hands touch contaminated surfaces and then the mouth. Public toilets are a key risk point.
• Respiratory viruses such as RSV and influenza, which spread easily in waiting halls and in vehicles where passengers sit close together.

Moulds

• Padded seats, curtains, ceiling boards and damp walls can grow mould within days, producing a smell passengers notice immediately.

What makes stations and piers different from homes is the number of shared touch points: stair rails, pontoon rails, benches, lift buttons, ticket machines and toilet door handles, each touched by hundreds or thousands of people a day, who then travel on and carry germs far from the flood zone. The elderly, young children, pregnant women and people with chronic illness need particular care. Any staff member or passenger with high fever, calf pain or severe diarrhoea after contact with floodwater should see a doctor promptly. Spraying lowers environmental risk; it does not treat disease.

Pain Points for Station, Terminal and Pier Managers

Areas are longer and wider than they look

Railway platforms run for dozens of metres, bus yards cover hundreds of square metres, and a pontoon has a deck, railings and a roof. Wiping point by point takes days.

Opening times cannot wait

The first passengers arrive before dawn. Disinfection must happen at night or between services, often within a few hours.

Image in front of tourists

Ayutthaya is a World Heritage city with Thai and foreign visitors. Photos of mud or complaints about smells at a pier spread online within minutes and affect both operators and the community.

Fewer staff, more work

During floods, many staff are also looking after their own homes, so the workforce shrinks exactly when cleaning demand peaks.

Public accountability

If passengers or staff fall ill after reopening, operators must answer to regulators and the media. A clear, recorded disinfection routine protects the organisation.

Electricity near water is dangerous

Running cables to an electric sprayer on a wet pontoon or yard creates electrical hazards. Tools that need no mains power are safer at the waterside.

Why Mops, Buckets and Hand Pumps Fall Short

Mops and buckets remove mud, but they do not leave disinfectant evenly on vertical surfaces and corners. Hand-pump sprayers have clear limits in stations and piers.

• No reach to height. Shelter roofs, waiting hall ceilings and signs people touch are beyond a hand pump's range.
• Too slow for the time available. Hundreds of square metres in a few hours before opening is not realistic with one person pumping.
• Coarse droplets and runoff. Large drops run onto the floor and into the river, wasting chemical and adding environmental load.
• Inconsistent results. Coverage depends on how tired the operator is.

Small electric sprayers bring cables near water, and pressure washers are excellent for mud but do not spread disinfectant as a fine mist. Stations and piers need high air flow, an engine, and a machine one person can carry along a platform or pontoon.

The Answer for Stations and Piers: SOLO PORT 423 Backpack Mistblower

The SOLO PORT 423 is a backpack mistblower from SOLO Kleinmotoren GmbH in Germany. A two-stroke petrol engine drives a powerful fan that carries the solution as mist across a wide area. One operator can walk the length of a platform, a yard or a pontoon and reach roofs and corners without climbing. World Health Disinfection (WHD) sells this model to government agencies, large organisations and operators of public spaces.

Key specifications, according to manufacturer SOLO

According to WHD's product information, the machine produces ULV-type droplets below 30 microns, which reduces the amount of chemical needed; actual droplet size depends on the nozzle and setting. WHD also lists MAHLE parts, a BING carburettor, a Nikasil cylinder, a long nozzle with a wide-angle diffuser, a rotatable spray tube, a UV-resistant translucent tank with a wide filler, a one-hand control lever, a padded harness and four anti-vibration mounts. For other optional kits in the SOLO range, ask the dealer.

Not a thermal fogger

Many people search for a "fogging machine", which normally means a thermal fogger that uses heat to turn solution into white smoke for mosquito work. The SOLO PORT 423 works differently: air flow carries droplets without heat, so it suits disinfectant on surfaces, seats, rails and buildings. If you need a thermal fogger for mosquitoes, see WHD's mosquito and pest control equipment centre.

Disinfection comes from the chemical

The sprayer spreads solution quickly and evenly, but the disinfecting is done by the product. Choose a registered disinfectant labelled for public areas and follow its concentration and contact time, for example Chemgene HLD4H sold by WHD, used according to its label and safety data sheet. Always remove mud first, then disinfect.

10 Reasons Stations, Terminals and Piers Should Own a SOLO PORT 423

1. Done before the first service. Up to 1,400 m³/h of air flow, according to SOLO, lets mist cover waiting halls and platforms in a short time.
2. Reaches roofs and high signs. About 12 m of horizontal reach gets mist where mops cannot.
3. Safer at the waterside. No cables on wet pontoons or yards.
4. Large 12-litre tank. Spray the length of a platform without frequent refills.
5. One person can do it. Ideal for small piers and stations with few staff.
6. Saves chemical. According to WHD, fine ULV-type droplets reduce runoff.
7. Rotatable spray tube. Aim up at roofs, down under seats or into rail joints easily.
8. Reusable all season. Floods come in waves; your own machine means a new round right after each recession.
9. Routine sanitation too. Outside flood season it supports scheduled spraying with the chemical you choose.
10. Passenger confidence. Systematic disinfection with a posted date brings passengers and tourists back. See the SOLO PORT 423 product page.

Before and After: Restoring a Ferry Pier After the Chao Phraya Recedes

These points illustrate the example case and are not measurements. Real times depend on area and chemical.

Step-by-Step: Disinfecting Stations, Terminals and Piers After a Flood

Step 1: Check safety before entering

Inspect pontoons, ramps and platform surfaces for subsidence or slipperiness. Cut power to any section that was submerged and have an electrician check it. Coordinate with local authorities on river level and current.

Step 2: Close the area and plan the time

Announce a temporary closure, choose a window with no services, and divide the site into zones: waiting hall, platform or pontoon, toilets, parking and vehicles.

Step 3: Remove all mud and debris

Clear wood, plastic and water plants. Pressure-wash floors, ramps, steps and rails, scrub wall edges with brushes, and clean toilets with sewage backflow thoroughly.

Step 4: Take out absorbent items

Seat cushions, mats, curtains and wet cardboard should be laundered, dried or discarded, because they harbour mould that spray cannot reach.

Step 5: Prepare the chemical and the machine

Mix a registered disinfectant at the label rate, fill the 12-litre tank of the SOLO PORT 423, check fuel according to the manufacturer's manual, and refuel only with the engine off and cool, well away from the river so no fuel reaches the water.

Step 6: High to low, inside to outside

Start with roofs and ceilings in the waiting hall, then walls, signs, ticket counters, seats and floors, then move out to the platform or pontoon. Back away from treated areas so you do not walk through them, spray with the wind, and avoid spraying directly into the river.

Step 7: Shared touch points and toilets

Cover stair rails, pontoon rails, lift buttons, door handles and toilets thoroughly. Leave the surfaces wet for the label contact time, and wipe or rinse frequently touched surfaces if the label requires.

Step 8: Vehicles

For boats, songthaew and buses, wash off mud first, open doors and windows, spray cabins, seats, grab rails and floors, wait for the contact time, then ventilate before taking passengers.

Step 9: Ventilate, inspect and record

Ventilate for the time the label requires, check for residue or slippery floors, post the date and time of disinfection, and log zones, chemical and operator to plan repeat rounds while the river is still rising and falling.

Safety When Using a Backpack Mistblower at Stations and Piers

• Hearing protection. Sound pressure at the operator is 97 dB(A), according to SOLO. Wear ear muffs or plugs and spray outside passenger hours.
• Regular breaks. Engine vibration tires hands and arms, so set limits on continuous work and rotate operators.
• Chemical PPE per label. Chemical-resistant gloves, goggles or a face shield, a suitable respirator, long sleeves or coveralls, and non-slip boots, as the label and safety data sheet require.
• Safe refuelling. Engine off and cool, away from flames and away from the water's edge.
• Mind the weight on slippery decks. It weighs 11.0 kg dry and about 23 kg or more with a full tank. Take extra care on wet pontoons and ramps and have someone help lift it.
• Keep people and animals out. Block entrances, post signs, never spray toward people or into the wind.
• Wait for re-entry. Let passengers in only after the label re-entry time.
• Train staff. Everyone who uses the machine should learn starting, nozzle adjustment, emergency stop and cleaning after use.

Buy Your Own or Hire a Service

For stations and piers that flood most years, owning a SOLO PORT 423 means you can disinfect whenever needed without waiting. Government bodies can procure it as equipment, and WHD can prepare product documents and a quotation. WHD does not list a price online; request a quote at 065-556-6294 or LINE @whd268.

If you are not ready to buy, or want professionals for a large first round, you can hire WHD's disinfection spraying service separately. It is a different option from owning the machine.

For other angles on the same machine, read SOLO Port 423 against dengue for municipalities and SOLO Port 423 against emerging disease for provincial public health.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the SOLO PORT 423 price?

WHD does not publish a price; it depends on quantity and order terms. Request a quotation at 065-556-6294 or LINE @whd268.

2. How do you disinfect a pier after a flood before reopening?

Check the structure, remove mud and debris and absorbent items, then spray a registered disinfectant over the shelter, pontoon, rails and boats, wait for the contact time and ventilate before opening.

3. What disinfection sprayer suits a railway station?

Long, wide platforms suit an engine-powered backpack mistblower such as the SOLO PORT 423, with a 12-litre tank and about 12 m horizontal reach according to SOLO.

4. What is the difference between a mistblower and a thermal fogger?

A thermal fogger uses heat to make smoke; a mistblower uses air flow without heat, which is better suited to disinfectant on surfaces.

5. Can I spray near the river?

Aim away from the river, avoid spraying into the water, fill chemical and fuel away from the edge, and follow the environmental precautions on the label.

6. When can passengers re-enter a sprayed waiting hall?

Only after the label contact time and re-entry time, and after ventilation.

7. Is it too heavy to use on a pontoon?

It weighs 11.0 kg dry and about 23 kg or more when full. It can be used on a pontoon with non-slip boots, care on wet surfaces and help lifting it on.

8. Which disinfectant should a bus terminal use after flooding?

A registered disinfectant labelled for public areas, such as Chemgene HLD4H from WHD, used per label and SDS.

9. Does it need electricity?

No. It runs on a two-stroke petrol engine, so there are no cables in wet areas.

10. What if we are not ready to buy?

Hire WHD's disinfection spraying service separately by phone or LINE.

Bring Passengers Back With Confidence

The 2026 (B.E. 2569) flood season has forced many riverside transport points to pause. Those that disinfect quickly and systematically reopen sooner and regain passenger trust sooner. The SOLO PORT 423 lets your station or pier do that work itself.

View SOLO PORT 423 details and request a price

Call 065-556-6294 or add LINE @whd268 for a quotation, procurement details or a demonstration.

Related Reading and References

• SOLO Port 423 for dengue control, municipalities
• SOLO Port 423 for emerging disease, provincial public health
• WHD disinfection service
• TopNews report on the Pom Phet flood, 3 Oct 2026
• Government PR Department flood summary, DDPM data 7 Oct 2026
• CDC flood cleanup guidance

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