Thousands of Bangkok residents have been forced into shelters after days of torrential rain flooded homes and roads across the Thai capital.
Bangkok has declared a flood disaster after days of heavy rain inundated homes and roads across the Thai capital. Thousands of residents awoke in emergency shelters on Sunday, September 27, with some beginning the task of drying out their homes and belongings as floodwaters lingered.
Authorities declared the disaster across the city on Saturday, following almost 48 hours of continuous rain. The declaration covers all 50 districts of Bangkok and allows agencies to coordinate a citywide response as officials work to drain flooded roads and swollen canals.
The scale of the flooding has drawn comparisons to some of the worst weather the city has seen. Thailand is used to wet weather, and September marks the peak of its rainy season, yet several residents said this year seemed worse than usual.
Record Rainfall Floods Bangkok Homes and Roads
The flooding followed an extraordinary amount of rain in a short period. According to the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, more than 330 millimeters, or about 13 inches, of rain fell in some parts of the city between Thursday and Sunday.
Nearly 4,900 people have been evacuated to shelters, with around 52,000 households affected by the floods. Water levels in the city’s network of canals remained high on Sunday morning, and authorities said they were working to speed up drainage.
The downpour turned major roads into rivers and submerged vehicles. In some eastern parts of the city, residents in plastic rain ponchos waded through knee-deep water, floating their belongings in plastic tubs as they moved through flooded streets and parking lots.
Bangkok Braces for More Rain as Cleanup Begins
The impact on daily life has been significant. Hundreds of city schools will be closed on Monday, according to the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration. Some convenience stores were left with empty shelves over the weekend as residents rushed to buy essentials.
The prime minister’s office urged the public to avoid panic-buying and warned that price gouging is a criminal offense. Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt said several roads remained flooded and advised residents to avoid unnecessary travel while the water receded.
More rain was forecast throughout Sunday for Bangkok and its surrounding provinces, though authorities said it was expected to begin easing on Monday. For now, the focus remains on draining the worst-affected areas and helping displaced residents return home once conditions allow.
Some residents described lengthy periods with their homes underwater, and a few noted that water levels in their areas appeared higher than during the major floods of 2011. That year, widespread flooding across Thailand killed more than 500 people and damaged millions of homes, which is why the current situation is being watched closely.
