BANGKOK, Thailand – Eastern Bangkok is heavily flooded, with all local canals full and 15 main roads deep underwater on Saturday morning, according to Bangkok governor Chadchart Sittipunt. The governor said rain in the capital started at 4pm on Thursday and accumulated rainwater reached nearly 300 millimetres in Min Buri, Klong Sam Wa and Saphan Sung districts by Saturday morning.

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He stated that it has rained heavily in the eastern part of Bangkok and more rain is coming from Nonthaburi and Pathum Thani, with situations not yet relieved as a low-pressure area causes rain to circle above Greater Bangkok. The governor said authorities are fighting by pumping floodwater but all canals in the eastern part of Bangkok are now full, putting people living near canals at risk, referring to Saen Saep, Prawet, Lat Phrao and Prem Prachakorn canals. He recommended affected people move valuable belongings and vehicles to high ground because rain could continue, adding that floodwater has also flowed into the capital from Nonthaburi and Pathum Thani provinces.

The flood risk recommendation was for people living near canals, with bed-ridden people in flooded areas to be moved to hospitals and other flood victims who must leave their houses able to take shelter at Bangkok Metropolitan Administration schools. According to the BMA, sandbags are available for flood victims at district offices, and if rain stops, floodwater should recede within six hours.

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Regarding road traffic, motorists and commuters were advised to avoid 15 main roads that were heavily flooded, including Vibhavadi Road from Chatuchak through Laksi to Don Muang, Din Daeng Road between Din Daeng and Asok-Din Daeng intersections, Phahon Yothin Road at several points including the five-way Lat Phrao intersection and from Saphan Khwai to Aree, Suwinthawong Road from Min Buri to Wat Saen Suk, Srinagarindra Road from Bang Kapi to Bang Na, Ratchadaphisek Road from Rama IX to Ratchayothin, Ngam Wong Wan Road from The Mall Ngam Wong Wan to Kaset intersection, Lat Krabang Road from Suvarnabhumi airport to Saphan Sung, the whole route of Pattanakan Road, Lat Phrao Road from Ratchada-Lat Phrao intersection to Bang Kapi, On Nut Road from Sukhumvit 77 to Prawet, Phetchaburi Road from Makkasan to Ekamai, Chaeng Watthana Road from Laksi to the expressway, Sukhumvit Road from Bang Na to Udomsuk, and Ram Intra Road from Bang Khen to the second kilometre marker, with alleys near canals also flooded. The governor noted that there was no flooding problem on the western side of Bangkok from the Chao Phraya River.

-Thailand News (TN)