Bangkok Flooding: Heavy Rains Leave Parts of Thai Capital Under Water

Parts of Bangkok remained submerged on Monday after days of heavy rainfall overwhelmed the Thai capital’s drainage system, disrupting transport, businesses and daily life in several communities.

The flooding has affected roads across the city, with some vehicles partly submerged and residents in badly affected areas using small boats to move around and collect essential supplies.

Bangkok declared a city-wide disaster on September 26 following nearly 48 hours of intense rainfall. Authorities have since mobilised emergency services, boats and relief supplies to assist affected communities.

Heavy Rain Overwhelms Drainage System

Some parts of Bangkok recorded around 300 millimetres of rain within 48 hours, putting significant pressure on drainage infrastructure.

In Bang Kapi and other affected areas, residents were forced to navigate through deep floodwater as streets and access routes became difficult to use.

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration said drainage operations were continuing around the clock, with major canals still carrying high water levels as runoff from smaller waterways continued to flow into them.

Officials have warned that some communities could remain flooded until water levels in the city's canals fall sufficiently to allow drainage to continue.

All 50 Districts Affected

The disaster declaration covers all 50 districts of Bangkok.

The flooding has disrupted road traffic and public transportation, while schools operated by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration were closed on Monday.

Thailand's Cabinet also approved special public holidays for September 28 and 29 in Bangkok and surrounding areas to reduce movement and traffic and allow emergency services to respond to the flooding.

The measures are intended to ease pressure on transport networks and provide authorities with greater flexibility to manage the emergency.

Thousands Seek Shelter

Authorities have established hundreds of temporary shelters for residents unable to remain safely in their homes.

Around 3,000 people were staying in shelters on Sunday, while government agencies have also deployed boats and mobile kitchens to support communities affected by the flooding.

Bangkok officials have urged residents in severely affected areas to follow instructions from emergency authorities and use designated shelters where necessary.

Governor Says Drainage Is Operating at Full Capacity

Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt said the city's drainage systems were operating at full capacity as authorities worked to move floodwater out of affected communities.

However, high water levels in major canals could prolong flooding in some neighbourhoods.

Officials have indicated that several consecutive days without significant rainfall could be required before the remaining floodwater is fully drained.

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration is continuing to pump and divert water toward the Chao Phraya River while monitoring canal levels across the city.

Flooding Extends Beyond Bangkok

The flooding is not limited to the capital.

Thailand's Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation reported that flooding was continuing across 25 provinces outside Bangkok, affecting more than 545,000 people.

The affected areas include hundreds of districts, subdistricts and villages, placing additional pressure on emergency and relief operations.

At least eight people have died since September 16 in connection with the wider flooding, according to disaster officials cited in recent reports. No deaths had been reported in Bangkok at the latest update.

Emergency Response Continues

Government agencies and local authorities are continuing to distribute relief supplies and provide transportation assistance to residents trapped by floodwater.

The scale of the flooding has also highlighted the pressure that extreme rainfall can place on Bangkok's drainage and water-management systems.

Thailand's government has indicated that longer-term water-management infrastructure will also be considered as authorities assess the causes and impact of the current flooding.

For residents in affected communities, however, the immediate priority remains getting floodwater out of homes and streets and restoring access to essential services.

With additional rainfall still possible, authorities are continuing to monitor water levels and weather conditions while emergency teams work to assist affected communities.