Bangkok flooding forces nearly 4,900 people into shelters as waters remain high

THAILAND: Flooding continued across Bangkok, Thailand, on Monday (28 September) after days of heavy rain inundated homes and roads, forcing nearly 4,900 people to evacuate to temporary shelters.

Around 52,000 households have been affected by the flooding, prompting authorities to declare a disaster across the capital, according to the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA).

The flooding has also disrupted travel, closed hundreds of schools and prompted the government to declare special public holidays in Bangkok and three neighbouring provinces.

Nearly 4,900 people evacuated

The BMA said nearly 4,900 people had been evacuated to shelters by Sunday, as residents in several low-lying communities dealt with flooded homes.

Some residents had begun returning to their homes to dry out belongings as water levels fell in certain areas.

Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt visited a temporary shelter at a school in the Kheha Romklao area on Saturday night, where about 1,000 evacuees were staying.

Residents were seen resting on cots and benches in school hallways, while others slept on classroom floors after desks and chairs were moved aside.

Chadchart said several roads remained flooded and urged residents to avoid unnecessary travel.

Heavy rainfall overwhelms the capital

More than 330 millimetres of rain fell in some parts of Bangkok between Thursday and Sunday, according to Thailand's Meteorological Department.

September is normally the peak of Thailand's rainy season, but some residents said the flooding this year had been particularly severe.

Office worker Kosin Nilset, who lives near the Premprachakorn canal on the outskirts of Bangkok, told AFP that his house had been underwater for about 30 hours.

Water levels across Bangkok's network of canals remained high on Sunday, with authorities working to accelerate drainage.

More rain was forecast for Bangkok and surrounding provinces on Sunday, although conditions were expected to improve from Monday.

Flooding continued on Monday

Despite clearer skies and only 46mm of rainfall recorded late Sunday night, floodwaters remained on several roads in Bangkok on Monday morning.

The BMA's Drainage and Sewerage Department reported water levels ranging from 15.7cm to 47.5cm at several locations.

The deepest flooding was recorded at Pattanakan Road at its intersection with Srinagarindra Road in Suan Luang district, where water reached 47.5cm.

Other affected roads included Lat Phrao 122 Road, Soi Senanikhom Road, Nawamin Road, Ngam Wong Wan Road, Phahon Yothin 60/1 Road and Ramkhamhaeng 43/1 Road.

The Meteorological Department forecast isolated heavy rain in parts of northern, central and eastern Thailand as a low-pressure cell moved towards the Gulf of Martaban in Myanmar.

Safety concerns as flooding persists

Authorities have stepped up safety measures in flooded communities following the death of a 58-year-old woman who was electrocuted amid the high water.

The flooding has also affected daily life across the capital. Hundreds of city schools were due to close on Monday, while some convenience stores reported empty shelves as residents stocked up on essential supplies.

The Prime Minister's Office urged people not to panic-buy goods and warned that price gouging was a criminal offence.

The Cabinet subsequently declared Monday and Tuesday special public holidays in Bangkok and three neighbouring provinces to ease travel disruption and reduce risks to the public.

Scientists have warned that extreme weather events are expected to become more intense and frequent as global temperatures rise due to greenhouse gas emissions.