Flood-hit residents to sue BMA

PUBLISHED : 10 Nov 2026 at 05:25

The Democrat Party is preparing an Administrative Court lawsuit with residents of Khlong Chan Flats in Bang Kapi district against the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) over its handling of recent flooding and alleged delays in compensation payments.

Deputy party leader Sakoltee Phattiyakul and deputy secretary-general Ramet Rattanachaweng, who heads the party's legal team, visited the community on Sunday at the instruction of party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva.

Mr Sakoltee said residents complained that relief payments had been slow and inadequate. Many households and businesses had received nothing, while others received only 5,000-9,000 baht in relief payments despite extensive damage.

He cited losses of up to 700,000 baht at local shops and a bookstore, as well as a damaged photocopier worth more than 80,000 baht.

The proposed lawsuit will seek fair compensation and highlight what the party described as four failures by the BMA under Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt. The allegations include inadequate advance water management, failure to remove drainage obstructions, insufficient flood warnings and concerns over the readiness and efficiency of water pumps.

Mr Sakoltee alleged BMA agencies failed to warn residents despite officials knowing water levels were critical. As a result, he claimed residents of Khlong Chan Flats and Rom Klao could not protect their property, leaving thousands of vehicles submerged and damaged.

He also urged the government to work with financial institutions to assist owners of flood-damaged cars and motorcycles, particularly those without first-class insurance who were still making instalment payments on vehicles they could no longer use.

The party will gather evidence and damage records this week, with its legal team expected to file the first cases within two weeks.