Section 222 — Causing a dangerous flood
English translation
Whoever causes a flood likely to be dangerous to another person or to the property of another shall be liable to imprisonment not exceeding seven years and a fine not exceeding one hundred and forty thousand baht.
This English translation is provided for reference only and has not yet been firm-verified — always rely on the Thai original.
Firm annotation
Section 222 is a base public-danger offence parallel to the fire and explosion provisions in the same Chapter. Its elements are an act that causes a flood and a resulting likelihood of danger to another person or to another's property; actual harm is not required, only that the danger was likely. It carries imprisonment up to seven years and a fine up to 140,000 baht. Where the flood in fact endangers the classes of property listed in Section 218, Section 223 raises the penalty to the Section 218 scale, and where it causes death, Section 224 applies.
Why this matters in practice
The crime is complete once a real likelihood of danger is shown, so causing a flood can be punished even without proven injury or destruction. It is a public-danger offence that the state prosecutes on its own, is not compoundable, and cannot be resolved by private settlement. Defence work usually targets whether the accused actually caused the flood, whether a genuine likelihood of danger existed, and intent, and results escalating to protected-property damage or death raise exposure sharply under Sections 223 and 224. Given the seven-year ceiling, early criminal defence advice is advisable.
Frequently asked questions
Does a flood have to actually damage something for Section 222 to apply?
No. It is enough that the flood was likely to be dangerous to another person or their property; actual damage is not required.
What is the penalty under Section 222?
Imprisonment of up to seven years and a fine of up to 140,000 baht, with heavier penalties under Sections 223 or 224 if protected property is damaged or a death results.