Bangkok Declares Disaster Zone Across All 50 Districts Following Severe Flooding

BANGKOK, Sept 27 — Bangkok authorities have declared a disaster zone across all 50 districts of Thailand’s capital after three consecutive days of relentless rainfall triggered widespread flooding throughout the city.

The disaster designation, which empowers local agencies to mobilize emergency resources, was announced on Saturday by Governor Chadchart Sittipunt, who reported that nearly 300mm (11.8 inches) of rain had fallen since Thursday afternoon. The persistent downpours inundated major thoroughfares, overflowed drainage canals, and sent floodwaters surging into homes and commercial establishments, forcing motorists to abandon submerged vehicles across the capital.

“The rain keeps falling and we are doing our best. We are trying to pump the water out, but the water in canals are full,” Chadchart said on social media. “The risk areas are those who live near canals. Every canal is now filled.”

Although government officials stated later on Saturday that flood levels had stabilized, authorities warned that draining the inundated city could take two to three days, provided rainfall subsides. To protect vehicles from rising waters, Bangkok’s public transport authority has opened free access to MRT train “park and ride” parking structures until Oct 2.

Residents in heavily affected areas, particularly near canal networks in the city’s eastern and northern sectors, reported waist-deep floodwaters, with some long-time locals comparing the severity to the catastrophic 2011 floods that killed over 500 people nationwide.

Thailand’s Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation issued warnings that low-pressure systems will continue to affect eastern, northeastern, and central regions through Sunday, cautioning against heightened risks of flash floods, mudslides, forest runoff, and river overflows.

–NMT