Thailand has declared a flooding disaster across Bangkok after 300mm of heavy rain hit the city over a 48-hour period over the weekend. The flooding has left more than 80,000 people trapped in their homes in the city, with many without water and electricity.
Deaths and affected areas
Eight people have died after floods caused chaos in the country. Thailand's Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation stated deaths occurred in three eastern provinces on September 16. Currently no deaths have been reported in the capital.
More than 1.7 million people and half a million households have been affected across 27 provinces across the country, the government department has stated. Almost 4,900 people have been evacuated to shelters in the city, according to the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA).
City districts declared emergency zones
The BMA estimates a total of about 52,000 households in the city alone have been hit by the floods. All 50 of Bangkok's city districts have been declared emergency zones.
Schools have been forced to close in Thailand's capital and people have been urged to work from home if possible. In Bangkok, more than 80,000 people were trapped in their homes unable to leave due to the flooding, the interior ministry stated.
Residents describe the ordeal
Nattapon Mankean, 32, in eastern Bangkok said he was left with no electricity and water after the flooding hit his building. The 32-year-old stated: "Our phone batteries died, we had no running water — everything became difficult." He added: "It was terrible, I couldn't do anything. I had to get out."
Office worker Kosin Nilset stated his house was left underwater for 30 hours during the horror. The 44-year-old said: "Our house was under water for about 30 hours." He added: "This time, the water level is higher than the 2011 flood."
Drainage system overwhelmed
Thunderstorms and heavy rain are common in Thailand around this time of year. However, extreme weather over recent days has overwhelmed Bangkok's drainage system.
Somkid Pheuk-ngam, 67, who lives near a canal just north of central Bangkok, stated: "The water keeps coming in. It's hard to go out now. It's like at my waist level now." He added: "I cannot go anywhere. I have been closing my shop for two days now."
