Bangkok declares disaster zone after days of heavy rain and flooding

Authorities declared all 50 districts of Bangkok disaster-affected areas on Saturday after nearly 300 millimetres of rain fell since Thursday afternoon, flooding roads, homes and businesses across the Thai capital.

Governor Chadchart Sittipunt said eastern Bangkok and communities near canals were among the worst affected. Canals were full, hampering efforts to pump floodwater from the city, while images showed submerged roads and abandoned vehicles. Some residents waded through waist-high water.

Officials advised people near canals to move belongings and vehicles to higher ground and asked residents to avoid unnecessary travel. Schools were designated as temporary accommodation, while the army began setting up shelters and field kitchens. Bedridden patients who depend on medical equipment were advised to consider temporarily moving to hospitals. Bangkok’s main Suvarnabhumi airport continued operating normally, although travellers were told to allow extra time for their journeys.

By Saturday afternoon, Chadchart said conditions had stabilised. He estimated that the water could take two to three days to drain if additional rain did not fall. Thailand’s Meteorological Department, however, forecast continued heavy rain in much of the country through Sunday.

Flooding had affected more than 84,000 people across 21 Thai provinces by Saturday, according to authorities, with the central region particularly affected.