Bangkok Governor, Chadchart Sittipunt, declared a state of emergency in 50 areas of Thailand's capital on Saturday. This decision was made after several days of heavy rainfall that led to severe flooding in the city.
Damage from Heavy Rainfall
Chadchart Sittipunt stated that the eastern parts of the city have suffered the most damage. He also warned that this situation poses a serious threat to the lives of residents. He advised residents in areas near canals to move their belongings to higher ground.
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Critical Situation and Emergency Measures
The Bangkok municipality has also set up shelters for homeless individuals. Chadchart stated that since Thursday, nearly 300 millimeters (11.8 inches) of rain has fallen and warned that more rainfall is on the way.
He wrote on social media: "The rain is still falling, and we are trying to drain the water, but the canals are full." He advised residents to move their belongings to higher ground and recommended that patients dependent on medical equipment temporarily move to hospitals if needed.
Local residents report a critical situation. A local vendor named Somkid Pheungnam said, "The water has reached my waist, and I can't go anywhere. I have closed my shop for two days." He added, referring to previous floods: "This time the flood is worse than the flood of 2011." At that time, widespread flooding in Thailand resulted in the deaths of over 500 people and damaged millions of homes.
Warnings from the Meteorological Organization
The Thai Meteorological Organization also warned that heavy rainfall will continue in most parts of the country until Sunday and reported a strong low-pressure system in the central region that is enhancing the monsoon conditions.
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