Thailand floods kill at least 23, Bangkok airport in chaos

Bangkok, Thailand is grappling with severe flooding that has claimed at least 23 lives, according to authorities. The city was inundated with around 320mm of rain within three days last week, comparable to the total rainfall it receives in September. Bangkok's governor Chadchart Sittipunt anticipates that floodwaters will recede from major roads within two days, though it could take up to a week for other affected areas to be cleared.

The tourism-dependent economy of Thailand suffered an estimated US$367 million in damage across 42 provinces. Bangkok's main airport, Suvarnabhumi, faced significant operational issues, with Thai Airways reporting a 50% decrease in staff, leading to the cancellation of about 30 flights, roughly 30% of their planned departures from Bangkok. The airline plans to reduce its flight count by 30% for three days, causing widespread delays and cancellations.

Tourism Minister Surasak Phancharoenworakul criticized Thai Airways for assigning their own employees to assist other airlines, citing concerns about Thailand's image. Meanwhile, the government has allocated over ฿4 billion (US$119 million) to address the flood's impact and approved a long-term drainage project costing ฿160 billion (US$4.8 billion), which will take eight years to complete.