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Bangkok Declares Flood Disaster Amid Persistent Rain
Confirmed
In Short: Bangkok authorities declared a disaster across all 50 districts of the city on Saturday due to persistent heavy rain since Thursday, flooding roads and swelling canals.
The governor, Chadchart Sittipunt, said the east of the city was most impacted and warned more rain was forecast.
Vendor Somkid Pheuk-ngam, 67, described the situation as dire, saying the water had risen to waist level near a canal in northern Bangkok.
Motorbike rider Samruay Nakkamnueng in the Ari neighbourhood reported waking up to find the street in front of his house flooded.
The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation warned of low pressure across eastern, northeastern, and central Thailand until Sunday, posing risks of flash floods, mudslides, and river overflow.
Bangkok’s public transport authority offered free access to MRT train “park and ride” carparks to store vehicles until October 2.
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) said the declaration covering Nong Chok, Suan Luang, and Khan Na Yao would allow relevant agencies to enter affected areas and respond swiftly.
The BMA stated that flooding had made travel and access difficult, affecting the public and posing risks to lives and physical safety while potentially damaging public and state property.
Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) director-general Theerapat Kachamat said flooding was affecting 11,796 households, or 37,036 people, across 12 provinces as of September 25.
Heavy overnight rain in Chon Buri also caused flooding in Sattahip, submerging a one-kilometre stretch of Sukhumvit Road and severely disrupting traffic.
Thailand’s Meteorological Department forecast heavy to very heavy rain in several parts of the country, including Bangkok and surrounding provinces, through September 27, with warnings of possible flash floods and waterlogging in vulnerable areas.
Background
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz declared Sunday's regional election results a 'disaster' for his center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party, which saw its worst-ever performance in the northeastern state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.
What's confirmed
- The disaster designation, which gives local organisations authority to take action, came after the governor said almost 300 millimetres (11.8 inches) of rain had fallen since Thursday afternoon.
- “The water keeps coming in. It’s hard to go out now. It’s like at my waist level now,” said Somkid Pheuk-ngam, 67, a vendor who lives near a canal just north of central Bangkok.
- “I woke up to go to work and the street in front of my house was flooded,” said motorbike rider Samruay Nakkamnueng in the Ari neighbourhood.
- Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt said the east of the city was most impacted and warned more rain was forecast.
- Bangkok authorities declared on Saturday a disaster across all 50 districts of the Thai capital after heavy rain for a third consecutive day caused heavy flooding.
- The rain has fallen almost continually since Thursday afternoon, flooding roads and swelling Bangkok’s canals, sending water into many homes and restaurants alongside them, AFP reporters saw.
- “I worried if my motorbike would be able to wade through floodwater this much.” Further southeast, in the On Nut neighbourhood, AFP reporters saw locals wading through knee-high flood waters along a road, as well as filling up sandbags to take home.
- Bangkok’s public transport authority offered free access to MRT train “park and ride” carparks to store their vehicles, until October 2.
- The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation warned of low pressure across eastern, northeastern and central Thailand until Sunday, saying there was a risk of flash floods, forest runoff, mudslides, and river overflow.
What's still developing
- “The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration will closely monitor the situation and take further action in accordance with the relevant procedures and regulations should other areas meet the criteria for declaration as public-disaster-affected areas,” it said in a statement.
- BANGKOK, Sept 26 — Bangkok authorities have declared three districts flood-disaster areas after persistent heavy rain disrupted travel and access to affected communities.