BANGKOK — Days of relentless rain have triggered widespread flooding across Bangkok, disrupting traffic, forcing thousands of people into emergency shelters and prompting authorities to declare all 50 districts of the Thai capital a flood disaster area.
Heavy rain that began Thursday afternoon continued through Saturday, with accumulated rainfall exceeding 30 centimetres in several parts of Bangkok. Floodwaters spread particularly across central and eastern areas, submerging roads and leaving vehicles stranded as authorities struggled to drain the rising water.
More than 200 shelters were opened across Bangkok, with about 4,200 people seeking refuge as floodwaters affected homes and businesses. Some government facilities were also made available for residents needing temporary assistance or places to keep vehicles away from flooded streets.
The disruption was especially severe on major roads. Parts of Phetchaburi Road, one of Bangkok’s busiest routes, were heavily flooded, forcing vehicles to turn around while some cars were left partially submerged. Motorcyclists were seen pushing their bikes through floodwater, while residents waded through streets carrying food and drinking water.
Public transportation was also affected. Several regional bus services connecting Bangkok with eastern provinces were suspended, while businesses in flooded areas temporarily closed. Air traffic remained operational, although authorities warned that some flights could experience delays.
The flooding was not confined to Bangkok. More than 84,000 people across 21 provinces had been affected by flooding as of Saturday, particularly in central Thailand. Emergency warnings were sent to people in affected areas through the country’s mobile cell-broadcast system.
Thailand’s Meteorological Department warned that heavy rain would continue across much of the country through Sunday. Officials attributed the prolonged downpour to a strong low-pressure system over central Thailand combined with strengthening southwest monsoon conditions.
The scale of the flooding has revived memories of Bangkok’s devastating 2011 floods. Residents in some affected neighbourhoods compared the current conditions with that disaster, although the latest flooding remains a different event with conditions varying considerably across the capital.
Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt said authorities were working to drain the floodwaters as quickly as possible and expected conditions to improve once the rain subsided. The citywide disaster declaration was intended to allow authorities to respond more rapidly as flooding continued across multiple districts.
For residents, commuters and businesses, the immediate challenge remains navigating a city where normally busy roads have become difficult or impossible to cross. With additional rain still forecast, authorities continue to monitor water levels while evacuation centres remain available for people affected by the flooding.
The bigger concern now is whether Bangkok’s drainage system can keep pace with the continuing rainfall—or whether another round of heavy downpours could push more parts of the capital into severe flooding.
