Bangkok declared a disaster zone across all 50 districts as heavy rain submerges the capital

Thai authorities declared a disaster zone across all 50 districts of Bangkok on Saturday after heavy rain caused widespread flooding across the capital, submerging roads, canals, homes, and businesses.

Almost 300mm (11.8 inches) of rain has fallen on Bangkok since Thursday afternoon, overwhelming the city’s canal system and prompting the disaster declaration as officials race to drain floodwaters before more rain arrives. The nonstop downpours have submerged major roads and canals, sending water into homes and stores alongside them. Governor Chadchart Sittipunt said the east of the city was hardest hit. Photos and videos showed cars abandoned on inundated thoroughfares after drivers were unable to move through the rising water. Bangkok is no stranger to heavy rain during the monsoon season, but the continuous downpours have inundated the city’s drainage system and left residents worried. “What usually happens is we get heavy downpours for a couple of hours, then you’ll see the street often flooded but it would flow away into the drains quickly, and it would only happen in isolated areas too,” said Al Jazeera’s Tony Cheng, reporting from a flooded street in the capital. “What’s happening here is happening all across the city. This is not a flash flood; this is persistent heavy rain since Thursday evening, and it shows no sign of letting up.” So far, no casualties have been reported.

Canals at capacity as pumping efforts continue

Chadchart said officials were trying to pump water out but the canals were full. “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... The risk areas are those who live near canals. Every canal is now filled,” he said. Chadchart had warned earlier that more rain was forecast again on Saturday. The disaster designation gives local organisations authority to take action across the affected districts. Chadchart said flooding should recede once the rain subsides, as city officials work to drain floodwaters as quickly as possible. Residents living near canals were advised to move belongings to upper floors.

Somkid Pheuk-ngam, 67, a vendor who lives near a canal just north of central Bangkok, told the AFP news agency she had to close her shop for two days. “The water keeps coming in. It’s hard to go out now. It’s at my waist level,” she said. “I cannot go anywhere.” She said the flooding was worse than the 2011 flood.

Echoes of 2011 catastrophe

Widespread flooding across Thailand in 2011 killed more than 500 people. The disaster damaged millions of homes.

Government says situation stabilised but more rain ahead

Later on Saturday, the government said the flooding situation had stabilised, but added it would still take two or three days for the water to drain as long as the rain held off. “If more rainwater doesn’t fall in the area, it will be solved,” Chadchart said in a government statement. People were urged to stay home. The governor advised residents to move their cars to higher ground. Bangkok’s public transport authority offered free access to MRT train park and ride carparks to store vehicles until October 2. The Thai Meteorological Service has forecast more heavy rain through the week. The low pressure system causing the downpours is expected to move toward central Thailand. The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation warned of flash floods, forest runoff, mudslides, and river overflow across eastern, northeastern, and central Thailand until Sunday. The rain is expected to continue into Sunday, raising fears that more canals could burst their banks.