New NASA satellite images show floodwater spread across farmland in eastern Thailand, where weeks of monsoon flooding have swamped about 270,000 hectares (670,000 acres) of rice fields and fruit orchards. The NASA Earth Observatory published the before-and-after Landsat images on Oct. 9.

Flooding has hit 50 provinces since mid-September and affected more than 4 million people, according to International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies figures cited by NASA. Thai officials have reported dozens of deaths, with different agencies giving different totals.

The farm losses matter beyond Thailand — and the damage may grow as water recedes. The country is one of the world's largest rice exporters and a major grower of durian and other tropical fruit, so damage on this scale affects farm incomes and, potentially, regional food supplies. Thai officials say the full toll on crops will not be clear until the water drains.

Landsat Captures Prachin Buri Underwater

The NASA images compare Oct. 7, 2025, with Oct. 2, 2026, along the Bang Pakong River in Prachin Buri province, roughly 100 kilometers (60 miles) east of Bangkok. Captured by the OLI instruments on Landsat 8 and Landsat 9, the false-color views separate water from vegetation and developed land, revealing flooded farmland, aquaculture ponds and floating solar arrays.

The flooding followed heavy rain in late September, when a low-pressure system stalled over the region for several days and pulled moisture from the Gulf of Thailand, NASA reported. Bangkok reportedly received nearly 300 millimeters (11.8 inches) of rain in 48 hours, close to its average total for all of September.

Prachin Buri has been among the hardest-hit provinces. The same Landsat scene shows how floodwater spread across low-lying fields along the river, where farms, fish ponds and energy infrastructure sit side by side. Images like these help disaster agencies and insurers judge the reach of flooding when ground surveys are difficult.

The Bang Pakong basin drains toward the Gulf of Thailand, and several provinces along it, including Chachoengsao, were among those where water levels were still rising in early October, according to the disaster department. The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation reported 19 deaths there, the highest of any province, along with more than 188,000 people affected across seven districts.

Rice Paddies and Durian Orchards Take the Loss

Thai agriculture officials put the farm damage at more than 1.7 million rai, or about 272,000 hectares, across 49 provinces, according to The Nation. That includes about 1.3 million rai (roughly 208,000 hectares) of rice, about 290,000 rai of field crops and about 120,000 rai of orchards nationwide.

More than 150,000 farmers have been affected. In eastern Thailand alone, more than 26,000 rai of orchards were flooded, including durian groves, according to the Department of Agricultural Extension. Officials noted that growers replacing dead durian trees would wait at least five years for fruit, so saving surviving trees is a priority.

Kasetsart University's plant pathology teams are working with officials to help growers save flooded fruit trees, The Nation reported. Waterlogged soil can starve tree roots of oxygen, so the days after floodwater drains are critical for orchards.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives says compensation will follow Finance Ministry rules, and it plans to distribute vegetable seeds, planting stock and seedlings across the affected provinces once floodwater recedes. Officials have not released a dollar estimate of the losses.

Death Toll Figures Differ by Agency

Casualty figures have changed quickly and vary by source — a common pattern in large, slow-moving floods. The government announced 60 deaths nationwide since mid-September, AFP reported Oct. 7, according to Malay Mail. A day later, the disaster department's director-general, Nirat Pongsitthaworn, gave a cumulative total of 44 deaths and more than 3.13 million people affected, in a statement reported by Bernama.

Nirat said the department was "closely monitoring water levels and weather conditions" and had deployed disaster-response machinery. As of Oct. 8, water was still rising in seven provinces, including Ayutthaya, Pathum Thani, Samut Prakan and Chachoengsao, while it was falling in 10 others.

In Bangkok, four people died, and the city declared a city-wide disaster during the late-September rains, though floodwater has largely receded. The capital is preparing to host International Monetary Fund and World Bank meetings, and the government has faced public criticism over its flood response, AFP reported.

More Rain in the Forecast

The flood threat is not over. The Thai Meteorological Department warned of heavy rain, strong winds, hail and thunderstorms from Oct. 9 to 13 across parts of the northeast, east, central region and south, which could slow recovery in areas where rivers are still high.

For U.S. readers traveling to Thailand in the coming weeks, the State Department and Thai authorities are the best sources for road closures and local conditions. Flooding in central provinces such as Ayutthaya, a popular day trip from Bangkok, can disrupt transportation even after the capital dries out.

Satellite views will remain one of the clearest ways to track recovery. Thailand's Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency has used satellite data to estimate how much land remains underwater, reporting about 1.71 million rai still flooded at the end of September, according to The Star.

The bottom line is that Thailand's floods have inundated farmland covering roughly the land area of Rhode Island, with rice and durian growers among the hardest hit. Officials expect a clearer picture of crop losses and compensation once the water drains, but more rain is forecast this week.

What Readers Want to Know

How much farmland has flooded in Thailand?

About 1.7 million rai, or roughly 270,000 hectares (670,000 acres), across 49 provinces, including about 1.3 million rai of rice, according to Thai agriculture officials.

What do the NASA images show?

Landsat 8 and 9 images from Oct. 7, 2025, and Oct. 2, 2026, show floodwater covering farmland, fish ponds and solar arrays along the Bang Pakong River in Prachin Buri province.

How many people have died?

Figures vary. The government reported 60 deaths on Oct. 7, while the disaster department reported 44 on Oct. 8. Prachin Buri has the most deaths.

What caused the floods?

Heavy monsoon rain in late September from a low-pressure system that stalled over the region and drew moisture from the Gulf of Thailand, according to NASA.

Is Bangkok still flooded?

Floodwater in Bangkok had largely receded by early October, though water was still rising in several nearby provinces.

Is more rain expected?

Yes. Thai forecasters warned of heavy rain and thunderstorms from Oct. 9 to 13 in parts of the country.