Bangkok Declares Disaster Due to Severe Flooding

Rainfall over the past three days has caused heavy flooding in Bangkok, Thailand, leading to a disaster declaration across all 50 districts of the city. On Saturday, Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt reported that the eastern parts of the city were most affected. He stated that the situation posed a threat to life and issued an emergency advisory for residents living near canals to move their possessions to higher ground. City officials have opened shelters for evacuees. Governor Chadchart noted that nearly 300 millimeters (11.8 inches) of rain had fallen since Thursday afternoon, with more rain expected. "The rain keeps falling and we are doing our best. We are trying to pump the water out, but the water in canals is full," he said on social media, advising residents to relocate their belongings. He also urged bedridden patients dependent on medical equipment to consider temporary hospital stays. Local vendor Somkid Pheuk-ngam described the flooding, stating, "The water keeps coming in. It's hard to go out now. It's like at my waist level now." She mentioned that she has been unable to operate her shop for two days and compared the current flooding to the severe floods of 2011, which resulted in over 500 deaths and significant damage to homes. Thailand's Meteorological Department has warned that heavy rain will continue in most parts of the country through Sunday, attributing it to a strong low-pressure system affecting the central region and enhanced monsoon conditions.