Bangkok Floodwaters Begin to Recede After Weekend Deluge

Bangkok Floodwaters Begin to Recede After Weekend Deluge

Floodwaters in Bangkok were falling slowly on Monday. Heavy rain had fallen through the weekend. Some neighbourhoods and main roads still stood under water. Showers continued on and off. City officials said drainage work could now move faster.

The Bangkok Flood Control Centre said the weekend flooding reached 329,000 households. That is about 700,000 people. Deputy Governor Tavida Kamolvej reported the figure. Governor Chadchart Sittipunt declared a flood emergency in all 50 districts on Saturday. Suvarnabhumi Airport also faced disruption. More rain was forecast across much of Thailand. Bangkok itself was expected to receive less.

Officials said four main canals rose too high over the weekend to take runoff from nearby communities. Some districts escaped the worst. Authorities said they were focusing on older residents and people with disabilities. Teams delivered supplies or moved people out. Nearly 7,000 people were staying in shelters.

Eastern Bangkok was among the hardest-hit areas. Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul visited a flooded housing estate in Bang Kapi on Sunday night and helped hand out relief. On Monday, water near a train station and shopping mall in Bang Kapi was about knee-deep. Shoppers still waded through with bags and groceries. A mall boat carried some people to and from the station.

Naowarat Supanikorn, a 55-year-old maid, lives in a single-storey house with three dogs and six cats. She said water entered her home around 1.30 am on Saturday. She first moved the animals to a neighbour. She brought them back on Monday after hearing the sun might return. Rain still looked likely. Water in her street had risen above her hips at its peak and later dropped to about knee level.

She also lost her condominium job. She said her workplace told her she could resign if she could not attend. She bought supplies to cook and sell on the street. Business stayed slow because of the flood. She said bills would be hard to meet without work. Her first concern was the pets.

The floods also triggered panic buying. Food and goods deliveries were disrupted. Some businesses lacked staff because workers could not travel. Suvarnabhumi Airport said baggage piled up after staff shortages and problems with some carts. Some departures were delayed. Arriving passengers waited longer for luggage.

The government declared special holidays on Monday and Tuesday for state offices. It advised state firms, banks, private businesses and hospitals to decide whether to stay open. Thailand’s meteorological agency forecast heavy to very heavy rain in several regions. It warned people in the north, centre and east to prepare for flash floods, overflowing rivers, forest runoff and landslides near waterways, foothills and low ground.

Water in parts of Bangkok was easing on Monday. Other streets remained flooded. The wider effects of the rain were still being felt.