Thai capital Bangkok declared disaster zone amid flooding

BANGKOK: Bangkok’s governor on Saturday declared Thailand’s capital city a disaster-affected zone after torrential rain led to widespread flooding, while the weather agency forecast thunderstorms over the weekend.

Major roads were flooded with cars partly submerged and people were forced to wade through waist-height water after nearly 300 mm (12 inches) of rain fell within 48 hours.

Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt said the crisis “poses a risk to people’s lives” and could damage public and private property, and that the situation was most severe near canals.

The army said it is setting up shelters and field kitchens among other disaster relief efforts, while the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration has designated schools as temporary accommodation and asked residents to avoid unnecessary travel.

Supermarkets were crowded with people stocking up on supplies.

“I’m worried too, because I haven’t stocked up on food beforehand, and I’ve never faced this kind of situation alone before, since my parents aren’t with me,” said 19-year-old Sansuk Laowatcharakul.

The government on Saturday issued an emergency advisory for people living near canals to move possessions to higher ground.

Before the warning, “I wasn’t aware enough to consider relocating,” said Bangkok resident Suppakarn Julavijitphong as he carried luggage from a condo surrounded by floodwater.

The city’s main airport, Suvarnabhumi, was operating normally though the tourism authority advised travellers to allow an extra two to three hours in their plans.

Thailand experienced its worst floods in decades in November when at least 145 people died and thousands of homes were damaged in the southern provinces.