Days of continuous heavy rain have caused widespread flooding and severe disruption across Bangkok, affecting traffic and businesses. Accumulated rainfall has exceeded 30 centimetres (11.8 inches) in many areas.
Thailand’s Meteorological Department said moderate to heavy rain was still expected in several parts of the country on Sunday, but weather conditions were expected to improve by Monday.
Bangkok authorities have established more than 200 temporary shelters, with around 3,000 people staying there as of Sunday. Officials said 31 roads remained affected by floodwaters.
Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt said rainfall in the capital had decreased and city authorities were working to drain the water as quickly as possible. However, he warned that water levels in the city’s main canals remained high, with some still rising as water continued to flow in from surrounding areas.
Several low-lying areas, particularly in the suburbs, remained submerged, forcing many communities to evacuate, Chadchart said.
According to the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, more than 545,000 people in 25 other provinces had been affected by flooding as of Sunday, particularly in central and eastern regions.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said persistent rainfall had overwhelmed drainage systems in many areas. He ordered relevant authorities to take immediate measures to ease the situation and assist affected residents.
Several long distance train and bus services were suspended due to the flooding. Airports remained operational, although passengers experienced some delays.
