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Bangkok authorities have declared all 50 districts disaster-affected areas after days of torrential rain flooded roads, homes and parts of the capital.
Mariyam Adheela
People walk past abandoned vehicles on the flooded Phetchaburi Road in Bangkok, Thailand. [Lillian Suwanrumpha/AFP]
Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt announced the citywide declaration after nearly 300 millimetres of rain was recorded over about 48 hours. Floodwaters covered major roads, entered homes and left vehicles partially submerged in several areas.
The eastern parts of Bangkok were among the worst affected, while high water levels were also reported in several major canals. City authorities have been operating drainage tunnels and pumping stations at full capacity to clear accumulated water.
More than 200 temporary shelters have been established across Bangkok, with thousands of residents seeking refuge as flooding affected communities across the capital. Authorities have also advised people living near canals to move belongings to higher ground and avoid unnecessary travel.
Bangkok Metropolitan Administration run schools are also set to close on Monday as authorities work to reduce travel and traffic disruptions caused by the flooding. Officials said drainage could take two to three days if no further significant rainfall occurs.
The flooding has also affected areas beyond Bangkok. Thailand’s disaster management authorities reported that more than 174,000 families across 25 provinces had been affected as of September 27, with eight deaths recorded in four provinces.
