Authorities in Bangkok have officially declared the entire city a flood disaster area, covering all 50 districts, to facilitate a rapid emergency response as incessant rain continues to hammer the capital. The deluge, which began on Thursday afternoon, has already dumped more than 30 centimeters (11.8 inches) of rain in many parts of the city. According to the Thailand Meteorological Department, the heavy weather is expected to persist across most of the country through Sunday.
The flooding has significantly impacted the city, particularly in central and eastern regions, where water has blocked roads and brought traffic to a standstill. On Saturday, cars were seen crawling through waterlogged streets, while some vehicles were left partially submerged. Phetchaburi Road, typically one of the city's busiest thoroughfares, remained unusually quiet as motorists were forced to turn back. Regional bus services connecting Bangkok to eastern provinces have been suspended, and commuters were observed navigating through murky waters, with some residents wrapping plastic bags around their feet or wearing rubber waders to protect themselves.
Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt stated that while the situation is severe, the city is working to drain the floodwaters as quickly as possible. He noted that more than 200 shelters have been established throughout the city, with approximately 900 people already relocated to these facilities. Nationally, the government reported that over 84,000 people across 21 provinces have been affected by the flooding, with emergency alerts being sent directly to residents via mobile phones.
The impact on the city has been varied for both residents and visitors. Hwang Hwan-chung, a frequent visitor from South Korea, described the weather as "crazy," noting the difficulty in finding available taxis. Resident Sukanya Tongsuk compared the current conditions to the major floods of 2011, while Dutch expatriate Bjorn Franken reported that while he could manage, local events had been canceled and many businesses remained closed on Saturday. Despite the widespread disruption, air traffic control authorities confirmed that flight operations at the city's airports remain normal, though they cautioned that some flights may experience delays.
