Bangkok declares all 50 districts flood disaster areas

Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt has declared all 50 districts of the capital flood-disaster areas after heavy rain for a third consecutive day caused widespread flooding on Saturday, September 26.

The city-wide designation expands an earlier declaration covering three districts. It allows government agencies and local authorities to act more quickly and in a coordinated way within their legal powers to respond to flooding and assist residents.

Almost 300 millimetres of rain has fallen since Thursday afternoon, according to Chadchart. Rain has fallen almost continuously, flooding roads, swelling canals and sending water into homes and restaurants beside them.

Canals full as eastern Bangkok is hardest hit

Chadchart said eastern Bangkok had been worst affected and warned that more rain was forecast.

"The rain keeps falling and we are doing our best. We are trying to pump the water out, but the water in canals are full," he said on social media.

"The risk areas are those who live near canals. Every canal is now filled."

Further south-east in On Nut, AFP reporters saw people wading through knee-high water along a road and filling sandbags to take home.

Somkid Pheuk-ngam, 67, a vendor living near a canal north of central Bangkok, said the water had reached waist level.

"The water keeps coming in. It's hard to go out now. It's like at my waist level now," she said, adding that she had closed her shop for two days. Although flooding was common in her area, she said: "I think this time is worse than the 2011 flood."

Chadchart urged people with bedridden relatives who depend on life-saving medical equipment to consider a temporary stay in hospital. He also advised residents to move cars to higher ground.

Bangkok's public transport authority is offering free use of MRT train park-and-ride car parks for vehicle storage until October 2. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration said it would continue monitoring rainfall and flooding closely while coordinating assistance across the city.

Wider flood risks remain

The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation has warned that low pressure over eastern, north-eastern and central Thailand could bring risks of flash floods, forest runoff, mudslides and river overflow until Sunday.

Picture courtesy of Khoasod

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26 September 2026