Floodwaters inundated parts of Thailand’s capital on Monday, forcing residents to wade through flooded streets as some seven hundred thousand people were affected by days of heavy rain.
The flooding affected about 329,000 households, according to Bangkok’s Flood Control Center, as authorities worked to drain major canals and evacuate vulnerable residents.
Even though the rain stopped, several neighborhoods and main roads were still flooded. The eastern regions, including Bang Kapi, were among the hardest hit, with water up to knee deep in some places.
Bangkok Gov. Chadchart Sittipunt said he had declared a flood emergency across all 50 city districts and that authorities were focusing on helping older people and people with disabilities. Nearly 7,000 people were in shelters, city officials said.
Food shortages and work and transportation problems affected residents. Flooding also caused baggage-handling problems at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport, where some staff were unable to reach work.
Thai authorities warned of more heavy rain and possible flash floods, river overflows and landslides in several parts of the country.
