Heavy rains cause disasters in Bangkok, Thailand. The mayor of Bangkok declares 50 districts in the city as disaster areas

(Central News Agency reporter Li Zongxian, Bangkok, 26th) Heavy rains continued to fall in Bangkok, Thailand, causing flooding in many places and blocking traffic. Bangkok Mayor Chacha announced that the three administrative districts originally listed as disaster-stricken areas will be expanded to 50 districts in the city to speed up the coordination of disaster relief and assistance among various units. Some supermarkets and stores in Bangkok have seen crowds of people rushing to buy supplies, and many fresh foods have been sold out.

Chadchart Sittipunt announced today that 50 districts in Bangkok are disaster areas. Currently, many areas in Bangkok are flooded and causing serious traffic jams, with the eastern part of Bangkok being the most severely affected.

At 9 a.m. this morning, Bangkok residents received a mobile phone broadcast alert stating that the water level in the canal had reached the warning level and was expected to continue to rise, calling on the public to prevent flooding.

The Thai Enquirer reported citing data from the Bangkok City Government that this wave of rainfall has accumulated approximately 30 million cubic meters of water in Bangkok. The accumulated rainfall in Min Buri and Khlong Sam Wa in the northeast of Bangkok reached 274.5 millimeters and 273 millimeters respectively. In addition, water from Nonthaburi and Pathum Thani flows into Bangkok.

Cha Cha said this morning that rainfall began in Bangkok at 4 p.m. on the 24th, adding that "the eastern part of Bangkok has received heavy rainfall and the situation has not improved yet. The low pressure is causing continuous rainfall in the greater Bangkok area."

The Bangkok Post reported that the authorities have now activated water pumping equipment, with a total pumping capacity of 1,200 cubic meters per second, and are preparing to distribute 1 million sandbags. Bangkok schools that have not been affected by flooding will also be opened as temporary shelters, with priority given to assisting vulnerable people such as bedridden patients.

Continuing heavy rains triggered Bangkok residents to rush to buy supplies. Supermarket shelves were sold out of microwaveable food, and some stores were also flooded with shoppers this morning.

Daniel Hernandez, who has lived in Thailand for 13 years, told CNA that this is the worst flood he has experienced since moving to Bangkok. "Cars are trapped in the middle of the street, and people can only walk in waist-deep water. The road is like a river."

Bangkok resident Raviphan Panitcharoen said that since yesterday, the rain has not stopped and many places have been flooded. This morning, some businesses issued notices to close their stores through LINE.

"The area where I live has not been greatly affected, but many friends have sent messages saying that the water level around their homes is rising," Ravipant told CNA. He also pointed out that nearby mass merchandisers were crowded with people rushing to buy supplies, causing heavy traffic jams.

Bangkok suffered a massive flood in 2011. About 1/5 of the city was submerged, killing more than 500 people and damaging millions of homes.

Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said on his official Facebook in the morning that he would return to Bangkok quickly and immediately go to the disaster area.

Thailand’s Minister of Agriculture and Cooperation Suriya Jungrungreangkit asked relevant units to monitor water conditions around the clock, speed up drainage and deploy equipment to protect communities, agriculture and economic areas. The Nation reported that Suriya held a meeting today and required relevant agencies to be on standby 24 hours a day and to use pumping equipment to speed up drainage.

Due to continued flooding in many places, some MRT, light rail stations and shopping malls in Bangkok provide free parking to people affected by flooding.