Perhaps the worst of the damage during March 24’s freak thunderstorm was inflicted on Pattaya Beach, where runoff cascaded off the promenade and cut huge gouges in the already-eroded beachhead.
Floodwaters from the tropical storm flowed steadily from east to west, turning Beach Road and the adjacent sidewalks into a briny infinity pool where it was impossible to see where the street ended and beach began.
Barriers were broken down and nearly washed away from Pattaya Beach at the end of Soi 1 during the storm.
At Soi 6 in North Pattaya, the steps leading from stage area became a waterfall, cutting out trenches in the sand as the floodwater strained to return to the sea.
Barriers, pavements, and footpath bricks all were damaged by erosion and the force of the water. A large creek was created along beach outlets by the paths that the floods took as well, causing massive impacts for beach umbrella and deckchair vendors.
Pattaya Beach between sois 1 and 5 was worst hit, sending Pattaya officials scrambling for an emergency budget to repair the area. Sidewalks were wrecked and large trees were stripped to the roots by the raging waters, causing tourists to flee the area believing the trees would fall.
Engineering Department workers installed four water pumps at Soi 6 to ease the flooding. Two pumps also were put in at Central Festival Pattaya Beach and another one near the entrance of Walking Street.
The pumps did drain the water, but many wonder why they weren’t set up before the rain came.
Head engineer Veerath Jeerasripaiboon admitted officials new the rain was coming and would affect Pattaya, but didn’t want to set up the pumps beforehand due to the Pattaya Music Festival.
He said the pumps weren’t installed on Monday, the day after the festival ended and a day before the rain hit, because officials didn’t believe it would rain as long or as heavily as it did.
Now, however, he said the pumps will remain in place until further notice.
Already planned work beginning in April to refill Pattaya Beach will have more of a challenge now. At the same time, the city will install new, large drainage pipes to carry water that now cascades over Beach Road, eventually eliminating the need for pumps, he said.
