Bangkok declares flood disaster after 48 hours of heavy rain

A flood emergency disaster has been declared across Bangkok after 48 hours of heavy rain left roads in the Thai capital submerged.

Residents have been urged to remain at home, while those living near the city’s canal network are advised to move belongings to upper floors. The extreme weather has inundated Bangkok’s drainage system, exacerbating traffic congestion on roads already notorious for gridlock.

While thunderstorms are common in Thailand during this season, the recent downpours have pushed infrastructure to its limits. All 50 of Bangkok’s districts have been designated emergency zones, with Governor Chadchart Sittipunt noting that the eastern part of the city has been hardest hit.

“The rain keeps falling and we are doing our best. We are trying to pump the water out, but the water in canals are full… The risk areas are those who live near canals. Every canal is now filled,” Governor Chadchart told AFP.

Somkid Pheuk-ngam, a 67-year-old resident living near a canal north of central Bangkok, reported water levels rising to her waist. “The water keeps coming in. It’s hard to go out now,” she said, adding that she has closed her shop for two days. She noted that current conditions appear worse than the nationwide floods of 2011, which killed hundreds across Thailand.

So far, no casualties have been reported from the latest flooding. However, the Thai Meteorological Service forecasts continued heavy rain through Sunday, raising fears that more canals could burst their banks. A low-pressure system responsible for the recent storms is expected to move toward central Thailand later in the week.