Canals overflow due to heavy rain in Bangkok, Thailand, and all 50 districts are listed as flood-hit areas

After nearly 48 hours of heavy rain, which caused canals to overflow, roads to flood, and people to stumble through deep water, authorities in Bangkok, the Thai capital, declared on the 26th that all districts in the city were flood disaster areas, and even if it stopped raining, it would still take 2 to 3 days for the water to recede.

When Bangkok Mayor Chadchart Sittipunt released the latest news through a social live broadcast on the 26th, he said that the flood situation has "stabilized", but if it doesn't rain anymore, it will still take 2 to 3 days for the water to recede... "The situation has stabilized. As long as it doesn't rain again, the problem will be solved." After the cumulative rainfall in Bangkok reached nearly 300 millimeters, Chacha called on people to avoid going out. Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul also cut short his trip to London and returned early.

"The water keeps flooding in. It's hard to go out. It's up to my waist," said Somkid Pheuk-ngam, a shop owner who lives near a canal north of central Bangkok. She has been forced to close her shop for two days. Although Bangkok is often flooded, "I think this time it is worse than in 2011." In 2011, continuous heavy rains caused disasters across Thailand, killing more than 500 people and damaging millions of houses.

Almost non-stop rainfall since the afternoon of the 24th has caused water levels in Bangkok's canal network to surge, causing turbid river water to overflow into surrounding houses, restaurants, shops and alleys. Chacha said at least 13 roads were flooded, while AFP reporters in several different communities saw residents forced to stumble through deep water. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration declared all 50 districts in the city disaster areas.

Flooding was most severe in Bangkok's eastern districts and along canals, and residents were urged to move their belongings to higher ground. "Our problem is that these canals are full," Chacha said when releasing the latest news on the afternoon of the 26th. "We are working with neighboring provinces to try to drain water from the other side to minimize the amount of water flowing into Bangkok."

Bangkok, once known as the "Venice of the East", used to be a swamp with an altitude of only about 1.5 meters. September is the peak of Bangkok’s rainy season, but official data shows that this year’s rainfall is more than in previous years. The cumulative rainfall from September 1 to 25 was 487 millimeters, which is much higher than the average cumulative rainfall of nearly 269 millimeters in the same period from 1991 to 2020.