Bangkok declares flood disaster as heavy rain swamps capital

Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt declared a flood disaster across all 50 districts on Saturday after nearly 48 hours of heavy rain submerged roads and filled canals. The Thai Meteorological Department forecasts continued heavy to very heavy rain nationwide through September 27, with 47 provinces on alert for flash floods and landslides.

Chadchart said the situation had stabilised and could improve by Saturday evening if rainfall eases as predicted. He reported around 223 million cubic metres of rainwater fell on the Phra Nakhon side of the city, where drainage is currently pumping at 1,200 cubic metres per second and may take two to three days to clear.

“The water keeps coming in. It's hard to go out now. It's like at my waist level now.”

Bangkok Metropolitan Administration schools will close on Monday and staff whose duties allow will work from home to reduce traffic. Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul cut short a trip to London to return and oversee the response.

Residents in neighbourhoods such as Ari and On Nut described waist-deep water and stranded vehicles. Authorities have prepared one million sandbags and opened temporary shelters, while coordinating with the Royal Irrigation Department to divert water from Rangsit Canal toward the Chao Phraya River.