Bangkok Declared Disaster Zone as Flooding Submerges Thai Capital

Bangkok: Bangkok authorities declared the Thai capital disaster-affected zone on Saturday after nearly 48 hours of relentless rain left canals overflowing and major roads underwater. Almost 300 millimetres of rain fell on the city since late Thursday, submerging cars, flooding at least 13 major roads and forcing residents to wade through water reaching waist height in some areas.

Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt said the crisis posed a risk to lives and property, noting the situation was most severe near the city's canal network, which had become full to capacity. He urged residents to stay indoors, move their vehicles and belongings to higher ground, and avoid unnecessary travel, while the city's public transport authority offered free parking at MRT stations through October 2. Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul cut short a trip to London to return and oversee the response.

The Thai army began setting up shelters and field kitchens, while the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration designated schools as temporary accommodation. City officials said pumping stations were operating at full capacity, draining roughly 1,200 cubic metres of water per second, as workers coordinated with neighbouring provinces to redirect excess water away from the capital. Built on former marshland and sitting only about 1.5 metres above sea level, Bangkok remains especially vulnerable to flooding during the monsoon season. Suvarnabhumi Airport continued normal operations, though authorities advised travellers to allow extra time.

Some residents described the flooding as worse than the devastating 2011 floods, which killed more than 500 people nationwide, while Thailand's weather agency forecast further thunderstorms over the weekend.