Bangkok declares disaster after homes flooded, roads submerged by heavy rain

Bangkok has declared a flood disaster after experiencing nearly 48 hours of heavy rainfall, which has submerged homes, shops, and roads in water up to waist level. Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul returned home from London due to the severe weather, which brought over 300 millimeters of rain in some areas between Thursday afternoon and Saturday morning.

Somkid Pheuk-ngam, a 67-year-old vendor, described the situation as distressing, stating that she cannot leave her shop due to the continuous rain and rising water levels. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration declared a disaster for all 50 districts of the city, empowering local organizations to take action. Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt reported that the situation had stabilized, but if additional rain does not fall, it could take two to three days to drain the floodwater.

Canals in Bangkok are typically full, exacerbating the issue. Residents have reported water levels up to their thighs, and some fear the need to wade through floodwater for daily necessities. Authorities have set up temporary shelters for around 980 people, transferred 36 bedridden residents to hospitals, and prepared one million sandbags.

Despite these efforts, schools are set to close on Monday, and some officials have been asked to work from home. September has been wetter than usual, with the city recording 487 millimeters of rain between September 1 and 25, compared to an average of 269 millimeters for the same period from 1991 to 2020.