Severe Monsoon Floods Inundate Bangkok and Kill Eight Across Thailand

Severe monsoon flooding has killed at least eight people in Thailand since Sept. 16 and inundated Bangkok after roughly 320 millimeters of rain fell over two or three days. Reports say flooding affected more than 500,000 households in at least 27 provinces, with other figures citing over 580,000 homes across 41 provinces; more than 80,000 residents have been unable to leave flooded areas. Bangkok declared a city-wide disaster, closed schools and urged remote work, while authorities deployed boats and mobile kitchens and thousands sought shelter. The floods could cause at least 11 billion baht in economic losses and reduce Thailand’s projected growth, and swelling reservoirs prompted evacuations in the east. Separately, floods and landslides in Myanmar’s southern Tanintharyi region killed at least eight people, with 20 to 30 missing; the country’s upheaval has complicated rescue and aid efforts.
Floodwaters displaced wildlife as well as residents: reports described snakes in floodwater, 10 hog deer rescued and several found dead at Siam Amazing Park, and four roughly two-metre crocodiles that escaped a farm in another province.
Thailand announced a five-day holiday on Tuesday, intended to give people a chance to leave areas threatened by flooding around Bangkok.
Some residents described severe shortages and difficulties escaping: Bangorn Dednuam said her household had run out of food, while Bangkok resident Nattapon Mankean said he and his girlfriend fled after their apartment lost electricity and running water.
The Interior Ministry said relief teams aimed to provide three meals a day throughout the flooding and for at least seven days after the waters receded.
Publishers
32
Articles
76
Reach
108