Bangkok has declared all 50 of its districts flood disaster zones after nearly 300 millimetres of rain in about 48 hours overwhelmed the Thai capital's drainage systems and sent floodwater pouring into roads, homes and businesses.
Governor Chadchart Sittipunt signed the citywide order on Saturday morning (September 26), extending a disaster designation that had initially covered only three heavily affected districts — Nong Chok, Suan Luang and Khan Na Yao — when the rains began on September 25. Officials said the expansion would speed up coordination of relief efforts and the distribution of resources across the entire capital.
300mm in 48 hours overwhelms drainage
The rains, which began late Thursday evening, dumped the equivalent of about 30 million cubic metres of water on the city. Eastern Bangkok bore the brunt of the deluge, with canals filled to capacity and nowhere left for the runoff to go.
With major roads submerged, the governor urged residents to stay home if possible and avoid unnecessary travel. He cautioned that people living near canals faced heightened risks as water levels remained high, and advised residents to document flood-related damage for potential relief claims.
Citywide relief response
City authorities deployed pumps with a combined capacity of 1,200 cubic metres of water per second and prepared one million sandbags. Municipal schools are being opened as temporary shelters, and city workers are being sent to assist the most vulnerable residents, including bedridden patients. The state-owned Government Savings Bank also closed some branches in Bangkok and surrounding areas on Saturday.
Chadchart said conditions could begin to improve within six hours if there was no further rainfall, but warned that more heavy rain remained possible. Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, who is due to return to Bangkok on Sunday from an overseas trip, said on Facebook that he would visit the affected areas shortly.
Sources:
SFG Media: All 50 Bangkok Districts Were Declared Disaster Zones After Nearly 300 Millimeters of Rain in 48 Hours
The Standard Maldives: Bangkok declares citywide flood disaster after nearly 48 hours of rain
NAMPA/Xinhua: 3 Bangkok districts declared flood disaster areas amid heavy rainfall
Governor Chadchart Sittipunt signed the citywide order on Saturday morning (September 26), extending a disaster designation that had initially covered only three heavily affected districts — Nong Chok, Suan Luang and Khan Na Yao — when the rains began on September 25. Officials said the expansion would speed up coordination of relief efforts and the distribution of resources across the entire capital.
300mm in 48 hours overwhelms drainage
The rains, which began late Thursday evening, dumped the equivalent of about 30 million cubic metres of water on the city. Eastern Bangkok bore the brunt of the deluge, with canals filled to capacity and nowhere left for the runoff to go.
With major roads submerged, the governor urged residents to stay home if possible and avoid unnecessary travel. He cautioned that people living near canals faced heightened risks as water levels remained high, and advised residents to document flood-related damage for potential relief claims.
Citywide relief response
City authorities deployed pumps with a combined capacity of 1,200 cubic metres of water per second and prepared one million sandbags. Municipal schools are being opened as temporary shelters, and city workers are being sent to assist the most vulnerable residents, including bedridden patients. The state-owned Government Savings Bank also closed some branches in Bangkok and surrounding areas on Saturday.
Chadchart said conditions could begin to improve within six hours if there was no further rainfall, but warned that more heavy rain remained possible. Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, who is due to return to Bangkok on Sunday from an overseas trip, said on Facebook that he would visit the affected areas shortly.
Sources:
SFG Media: All 50 Bangkok Districts Were Declared Disaster Zones After Nearly 300 Millimeters of Rain in 48 Hours
The Standard Maldives: Bangkok declares citywide flood disaster after nearly 48 hours of rain
NAMPA/Xinhua: 3 Bangkok districts declared flood disaster areas amid heavy rainfall
