Thousands ‘wading’ out the storm

Hope floats: A man pulling a woman on an inflatable pool through floodwaters in the Bang Kapi district of Bangkok. Thousands of Bangkok residents awoke in shelters after flooding triggered by days of heavy rain in the Thai capital. — AFP

Rain eased in the Thai capital but flooding persisted in several low-lying areas, with thousands forced to move into temporary shelters. At least eight people were reported killed in the past 10 days nationwide.

Days of continuous downpours have caused widespread flooding and severe disruptions in Bangkok, impacting traffic and businesses, with accumulated rainfall exceeding 30cm in many areas.

Thailand’s Meteorological Department said moderate to heavy rain was still expected in several parts of the country, but conditions were expected to improve by today.

The city set up more than 200 temporary shelters, and over 4,000 people took refuge in them yesterday. Officials said 31 roads were still impacted by floodwaters.

Bangkok Gov Chadchart Sittipunt said rainfall in the capital has decreased and city officials were working to drain water as quickly as possible.

In a jam: Vehicles driving through floodwaters in Bangkok. — Xinhua

He cautioned that water levels in the city’s main canals remained high, with some still rising as water continued to flow in from nearby areas.

Several low-lying areas, particularly in the suburbs, were still submerged and many communities had to evacuate, Chadchart said.

More than 545,000 people in 25 other provinces have been impacted by flooding as of yesterday, especially in the central and eastern regions, according to the Department of Disaster Preven­tion and Mitigation.

Incessant rainfall caused flooding that overwhelmed drainage capacity in many areas, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said.

That sinking feeling: People standing on benches on a flooded pavement in Ramkhamhaeng in Bangkok. — AFP

He ordered relevant authorities to take immediate measures to relieve the situation and assist those impacted.

Several long-distance train and bus services were suspended. Airports continued to operate, but passengers faced some delays.

Arita Sanpoka, 33, a resident of a flooded community, said two neighbours in their 80s remained stranded in their home because they could not get downstairs.

“Right now the water in my house is up to waist height,” Arita said. “Everything in the house is ruined.”

She said daily life had become difficult, with power cut off on the ground floor and the bathroom unusable as the water level continued to rise.

Rachthanichporn, a delivery rider, said the flooding had also cut off her income. She had been wading through the water to buy supplies and resell them to make up for lost earnings. — AP/Reuters