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Prachin Buri MP: Urgent Aid Needed for Fish Farm Deaths due to Water Hyacinths

Prachin Buri MP: Urgent Aid Needed for Fish Farm Deaths due to Water Hyacinths

Khaosod•Society•2h ago

Reader Briefing

Over 4 million baht in fish have died in Prachin Buri due to severe water pollution and oxygen depletion caused by dense water hyacinths, prompting an MP to seek urgent government intervention.

  • •Extensive water hyacinth growth has turned the Prachin Buri River stagnant, leading to severe water pollution and oxygen depletion, killing fish in farm cages.
  • •Anat Wilawal, MP for Prachin Buri, has appealed to the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives for urgent compensation and water hyacinth management.
  • •The estimated damage to fish farms in Ban Sang district amounts to nearly 4 million baht, affecting 109 farmers.
  • •Provincial authorities have initiated emergency measures, including declaring a disaster zone and launching an operation to clear waterways.

Overview

  • •On May 21, 2026, at 12:35 PM, news report documented fish deaths in Prachin Buri due to water hyacinths.
  • •Water hyacinths accumulated densely, blocking the Prachin Buri River, causing stagnant water and severe oxygen depletion.
  • •Fish in cages belonging to farmers in Ban Sang district died en masse, resulting in significant financial losses.
  • •The estimated damage to fish farms is approximately 3.9 million baht, affecting 109 farmers across 2 sub-districts and 6 villages.
  • •MP Anat Wilawal pleaded with the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives for urgent compensation and effective water hyacinth management.
  • •Governor of Prachin Buri, Mr. Veeraphan Dee-on, ordered Ban Sang district to expedite a report for emergency disaster area declaration to provide relief.
  • •The Prachin Buri Provincial Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office, along with military, local administration, and sub-district bodies, launched 'Open Waterway 69' operation.
  • •The 'Open Waterway 69' operation aims to clear the dense water hyacinths to improve water drainage capacity in preparation for the upcoming rainy season (May-October).

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Key Quotes

Anat Wilawal
"The villagers are suffering greatly, especially farmers with fish cages along the river. Fish are floating dead everywhere because the oxygen level in the water is much lower than standard."
พี่น้องชาวบ้านเดือดร้อนหนักมาก โดยเฉพาะเกษตรกรที่เลี้ยงปลาทับทิมในกระชังตามริมแม่น้ำ ปลากำลังลอยตายเกลื่อนเต็มไปหมด เนื่องจากออกซิเจนในน้ำมีปริมาณต่ำกว่ามาตรฐานมาก
Anat Wilawal
"This recurring problem affects raw water quality for tap water production, obstructs drainage causing flooding during the rainy season, and devastates farmers."
แก้ไขปัญหาซ้ำซากที่กระทบทั้งคุณภาพน้ำดิบในการผลิตประปา กีดขวางทางระบายน้ำจนทำให้น้ำท่วมในฤดูน้ำหลาก ตลอดจนสร้างความเสียหายย่อยยับให้กับเกษตรกร
Anat Wilawal
"Water is life."
น้ำคือชีวิต

Key Entities

Person

Anat Wilawal(นายอำนาจ วิลาวัลย์)
Member of Parliament for Prachin Buri Constituency 1, Bhumjaithai Party, who is advocating for farmers affected by water pollution.
Mr. Veeraphan Dee-on(นายวีระพันธ์ ดีอ่อน)
Governor of Prachin Buri Province, who has ordered emergency measures to address the disaster.

Organization

Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives(กระทรวงเกษตรและสหกรณ์)
Government body responsible for addressing agricultural issues, including the current fish kill crisis.
Prachin Buri Provincial Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office(กองอำนวยการป้องกันและบรรเทาสาธารณภัยจังหวัดปราจีนบุรี)
Provincial agency coordinating disaster response efforts, including the operation to clear water hyacinths.

Place

Prachin Buri Province(จังหวัดปราจีนบุรี)ℹ️
Province in Thailand where the fish farm crisis due to water hyacinths occurred.
Ban Sang District(อ.บ้านสร้าง)
The specific district within Prachin Buri Province most heavily impacted by the fish deaths.
Prachin Buri River(แม่น้ำปราจีนบุรี)
The main river in Prachin Buri Province affected by severe water hyacinth infestation and pollution.

Law

Water Hyacinths(ผักตบชวา)ℹ️
The invasive aquatic plant causing critical blockage and pollution in the Prachin Buri River.

Timeline

April 2026(น.ค. 2026)
The approximate time period when the water hyacinths began to flood into the area from Nakhon Nayok.
May-October 2026(พ.ค.-ต.ค. 2026)
The period when increased upstream water flow is expected, making waterway clearance urgent.