Bangkok Rain Eases but Floodwaters Persist, Thousands in Shelters
Rain eased in Bangkok on Sunday but flooding persisted in low-lying areas, forcing about 3,000 people into shelters as eight deaths were reported nationwide over 10 days.
Rainfall in Bangkok eased on Sunday, yet floodwaters continued to inundate low-lying parts of the Thai capital, pushing thousands of residents into temporary shelters. At least eight people have been killed nationwide over the past 10 days, officials said.
Days of uninterrupted downpours have disrupted traffic and businesses across Bangkok, with accumulated rainfall exceeding 30 centimetres in many areas. The city has set up more than 200 temporary shelters, where about 3,000 people remained as of Sunday. Authorities said 31 roads were still affected by flooding.
Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt said rainfall had decreased and city crews were working to drain water as quickly as possible. He cautioned that water levels in the capital's main canals remained high, with some still rising as water flowed in from nearby areas. Several low-lying suburbs were still submerged, and many communities had to evacuate, he added.
The Meteorological Department said moderate to heavy rain was still expected in several parts of the country on Sunday, but conditions were forecast to improve by Monday.
Beyond the capital, more than 545,000 people in 25 other provinces have been affected by flooding, particularly in the central and eastern regions, according to the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said incessant rainfall had overwhelmed drainage capacity in many areas. He ordered relevant authorities to take immediate measures to ease the situation and assist those impacted.
Several long-distance train and bus services were suspended. Airports continued to operate, though passengers faced some delays.