Bangkok floods: Thailand capital declared disaster zone as thousands evacuated after torrential rain

Bangkok has been declared a disaster-affected zone after torrential rain flooded homes, shops and roads across Thailand's capital, forcing thousands of residents to move to evacuation centres as authorities struggled to drain the water.

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) declared all 50 districts disaster areas after almost 300mm of rain fell within 48 hours from September 24. Accumulated rainfall reached about 320mm in some areas over two to three days, nearly as much as the low-lying city normally receives throughout September.

The flooding has affected large parts of the city, with waist-deep water reported in several neighbourhoods. As of Monday, at least 5,901 people had moved into 234 evacuation centres, while more than 80,000 people remained unable to leave their homes because of flooding.

The latest Thai government update said around 329,000 households, representing roughly 700,000 people, had been affected in Bangkok. The worst-hit districts include Lat Krabang, Bang Kapi, Khan Na Yao, Sai Mai, Suan Luang, Saphan Sung and Lak Si.

Residents struggle with transport, food and basic supplies

Videos and visuals posted by tourists and residents showed entire neighbourhoods submerged, with people wading through waist-high water as roads became impassable and vehicular transport was severely disrupted.

Sunisa Manora, a resident of Pathum Thani near Bangkok, described the flooding as probably the worst she had witnessed in many years.

"Even major roads are flooded. We can't even reach the BTS station (metro), and there are no tuk-tuks (e-rickshaws) available. The wait time for a cab (on Grab) is over one hour, and the fares are inflated. Food delivery has stopped due to inundation," Manora told NDTV.

She said shops were also struggling to maintain supplies.

"If you somehow manage to reach a nearby 7-11 (departmental) store, there are empty shelves. It's very difficult for people with kids. Thankfully, many corporations have allowed working from home. But the rain has not stopped completely. It starts raining every few hours," she said.

AFP reported that some stores ran out of essential supplies as residents rushed to buy provisions. Fresh produce remained available at some market stalls, but residents in flooded areas had to wade through waist-deep water to reach vendors. Some sellers used floating plastic boxes and drums to keep their stalls operating.

Residents also reported power cuts and shortages of drinking water. Nattapon Mankean, 32, said his apartment complex in eastern Bangkok's Bang Kapi district had lost both electricity and running water. He and his girlfriend left with their two cats, carrying one in a cage and the other in a specialised rucksack.

"Our phone batteries died, and we had no running water, everything became difficult. It was terrible; I couldn't do anything. I had to get out," he told AFP.

Influencer Aryan Wadi also posted a video from Bangkok airport on Instagram, warning Indians against non-essential travel to Thailand. He said heavy showers had caused flight disruptions and left passengers stranded at the airport for hours.

Despite the severe flooding, both Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports remained operational, although ground transport and access around parts of the airport system faced disruption.

The situation has begun to ease in some parts of Bangkok as rainfall declines, but several major roads remain flooded. The BMA said on Monday that it was continuing pumping operations and lowering water levels in key canals to improve drainage.

Relief efforts expand as floodwaters slowly recede

Authorities have deployed boats, mobile kitchens, trucks and other resources to reach residents stranded by the flooding.

Interior Minister Unsit Sampuntharat said more than 80,000 people in flooded areas of Bangkok were unable to leave their homes. Relief teams were mobilising mobile kitchens and boats, with the government aiming to provide three meals a day throughout the flooding and for at least seven days after the waters recede.

Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt said rainfall had eased after the low-pressure system moved away from the capital, but drainage remained slow because water from surrounding areas continued flowing into the city's canals. He said some residential communities could take around two weeks to dry out completely.

The BMA said about 1,500 bedridden patients had already been moved to city hospitals. It has also appealed for relief bags, ready-to-eat meals, drinking water, high-clearance trucks, flat-bottomed boats and field kitchens.

Bangkok's geography makes it particularly vulnerable to flooding. The city sits on a river delta composed of soft clay and is only about 1.5 metres above sea level. It is also sinking by several millimetres each year. With a population of more than 8.4 million, the heavily built-up capital regularly faces flooding during its roughly six-month rainy season.

The wider flooding has affected 41 provinces across Thailand since September 16, killing at least eight people and disrupting more than 580,000 homes, according to the authorities.

The floods are also expected to have a significant economic impact. Estimated nationwide losses have reached at least 11 billion baht ($327 million), with the figure expected to rise if conditions do not improve.

Aat Pisanwanich of Rangsit University's economics department said the flooding could reduce Thailand's economic growth this year by 0.3 percentage points to 2.1%, while third-quarter growth could be cut by about 0.5 percentage points to 1.7%.

Thailand, Southeast Asia's second-largest economy, grew 1.9% year-on-year in the second quarter, down sharply from 2.8% growth in the previous quarter. Aat said Bangkok and the eastern region were likely to bear the greatest economic impact, particularly in wholesale and retail businesses, while industry and agriculture would be affected elsewhere.

The flooding has also spread beyond Bangkok. In the eastern coastal province of Rayong, authorities ordered evacuations on Monday after floodwaters pushed two reservoirs beyond their capacity. Officials separately warned residents of possible rapid downstream flooding after damage was reported to the spillway of Khao Chuk Dam, while water levels at Prasae Reservoir remained critically high.

The latest developments came as flood conditions remained serious in parts of eastern Bangkok despite easing rainfall. Officials have said high tides, runoff from surrounding areas and already-full canals were slowing the drainage process.

Thailand was also hit by devastating floods in the south last year. Those floods followed 630mm of rain over three days, killed at least 145 people, inundated more than 33,000 homes and damaged critical infrastructure including schools, hospitals and highways.