Bangkok Floods Persist Into Third Day as Eastern Districts Struggle

Heavy flooding in parts of Bangkok stretched into a third day, with eastern districts bearing the brunt of the disruption even as central areas of the Thai capital remained drier.

In Bang Kapi, a district near a canal, streets were submerged and residents waded through knee-high water under persistent rain. Many were heading to a large supermarket to collect supplies, carrying bags, backpacks and boxes. Some arrived by a small boat service arranged by the mall, which ferried people to and from the store.

The flooding has upended daily life and work for many. Naowarat Supanikorn, a 55-year-old maid who lives in a single-storey house with three dogs and six cats, said she discovered water seeping into her home at about 1:30 a.m. on Saturday. At its peak, she said, the water in her neighbourhood reached almost to her hips and has since settled at about knee height.

"I had to take my dogs and cats out. It was very difficult. I had to leave them with my neighbour. I have taken them back today because they said the sun would come out, but it looks like the rain will come back," she said.

She said she has lost her job at a condominium after her workplace indicated it would accept her resignation if she could not come in. "So I thought, that's fine, I'll quit," she said. She has since bought supplies to make food to sell streetside, but business has been slow in the flooded conditions.

"It's stressful. If the bills come, I'd be cooked, because I don't have work now. If I have to pay for water or electricity now it would be bad," she said, adding that her pets are her priority.

Bang Kapi's local train station has a long skywalk above a normally busy road, offering a dry route out of the water. From there, the scale of the flooding was visible: residents pushed young children on floats, while others rowed boats or waded with cool boxes. In some areas, the water reached chest height.

Pilawun Konhan, a 33-year-old housewife who lives with her retired husband and young daughter, said their home has been flooded. They woke on Saturday to shin-high water that had not receded by Monday.

"Every morning I check and it has not receded. It feels like it's rising, even. If rain continues like this, I think it will be like this for a long time," she said.

Submerged vehicles, including an abandoned taxi, sat in the floodwater as rain continued to fall.