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Jet Ski Stunt Amid Bangkok Floods Sparks Outrage, Leads to Arrest and Fine
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Firstpost•29-09-2026, 16:01
Jet Ski Stunt Amid Bangkok Floods Sparks Outrage, Leads to Arrest and Fine
- •Sorn Keadsiri, 27, rode a jet ski through flooded Bangkok streets, spraying water and creating waves, while thousands struggled with rising water and disrupted transport.
- •Videos of the stunt went viral, drawing widespread criticism for insensitivity during a severe flood crisis that left many homes submerged and basic supplies scarce.
- •Keadsiri was prosecuted, receiving a suspended 15-day prison sentence, a 5,000 baht fine, and confiscation of his jet ski for causing public nuisance and obstructing traffic.
- •He claimed the stunt was an attempt to lighten the mood, but it fueled anger among residents, particularly those in poorer communities disproportionately affected by the floods.
- •The incident highlighted broader frustrations with the government's flood response and the unequal impact of the disaster across Bangkok's communities.
Key Questions Answered
A Bangkok court sentenced Sorn Keadsiri to a suspended 15-day prison term, fined him 5,000 baht, and ordered his jet ski to be confiscated after he used the flooded streets for social media content.
Sorn Keadsiri told authorities that he wanted to make people smile and lighten the mood while Bangkok was suffering from severe floods, claiming a foreign friend persuaded him to do it.
Economist Aat Pisanwanich estimated nationwide economic damage at at least 11 billion baht, while Thailand's interior ministry reported that over 500,000 homes and 1.7 million people across 41 provinces remained affected.
