Thailand is facing continuing disruptions from widespread flooding, with four Toyota factories temporarily suspending production and Thai Airways halting cargo operations as authorities warn that Bangkok and central Thailand remain vulnerable to rising floodwaters.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said Bangkok, its metropolitan area and central Thailand were still at risk from water flowing south from northern areas. The government has established a flood response war room to monitor developments and coordinate agencies.
The flooding has already affected major businesses and transport operations. Toyota temporarily stopped production at four plants after floodwaters disrupted the delivery of parts, while Thai Airways suspended inbound and outbound cargo services from Sept. 30 through Oct. 6 because many employees were unable to reach work.
The disruption at Suvarnabhumi Airport has also created problems for travelers. Flooding on Tuesday left thousands of bags stranded and contributed to flight cancellations, although the airport itself remained operational. Thai Airways said around 80% to 90% of its employees had returned to work and that it was working to restore normal operations.
Bangkok was declared a disaster-affected area after receiving about 320 millimeters of rain over three days late last week, an amount close to the city’s typical rainfall for the entire month of September. Flooding has affected communities in Bangkok and several other provinces, while evacuations have been carried out in some areas.
The Bank of Thailand said the flooding had affected services, retail, wholesale and construction, although there had not yet been a broad impact on manufacturing. The temporary Toyota shutdown nevertheless illustrates how flooding can disrupt industrial production indirectly when transport networks and supply chains are affected.
Authorities are also preparing for additional rainfall. Thailand’s weather agency has forecast heavy rain from Oct. 5 to 8, particularly in northern and northeastern areas, raising concerns about additional water flowing toward already vulnerable parts of the country.
The government has been working to drain floodwater from Bangkok into canals, with officials saying conditions in many areas could return toward normal within two or three days. However, communities in low-lying locations remain at risk while water levels and runoff from northern areas are being monitored.
The flooding has also raised concerns about major international events scheduled in Bangkok. The annual meetings of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund are scheduled for Oct. 12 to 18, and officials said contingency plans have been prepared, although the central bank does not currently expect the flooding to prevent the meetings from taking place.
With more rain forecast next week, Thailand’s authorities are balancing flood-control operations with efforts to restore transportation, industrial activity and normal services. The coming days will be closely watched as officials assess whether additional rainfall and northern water flows could prolong disruptions in Bangkok and the country’s central economic areas.
