Thailand's Cabinet has approved special public holidays on Monday 28 September and Tuesday 29 September 2026 for Bangkok, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani and Samut Prakan as flooding affects the capital region.

The government has also extended free expressway use until the night of Tuesday 29 September, Deputy Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Watcharapol Khawkhum said in a Facebook post on Sunday, 27 September.

The measures are intended to reduce the impact on residents and make travel easier during the flooding, which has hit parts of Bangkok and surrounding provinces.

Two-day holiday for four provinces

Watcharapol said the Cabinet had approved the exceptional government holiday to help people deal with conditions in Bangkok and the metropolitan area.

"The most important thing is that people can use this holiday period to look after their own safety and that of their families," he said, adding that the government was ready to provide assistance and speed up efforts to limit the impact on residents.

The announcement applies specifically to government offices in Bangkok, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani and Samut Prakan. Foreign residents should note that private-sector employers, international schools, shops, banks and other businesses are not necessarily required to close, and should check directly with their workplace or service provider.

Those with immigration appointments, visa extensions or other business at government offices in the four provinces may also need to expect closures or rescheduling over the two days.

Free expressways extended to Tuesday night

Free travel on expressways has been extended through to Tuesday night, 29 September. Watcharapol thanked the Ministry of Transport for coordinating the measure during the special holiday period.

He said reducing travel costs and making it easier for people to get around Bangkok and the surrounding provinces were particularly important during the emergency.

The announcement did not specify which expressway routes are covered. Motorists, including visitors using rental cars, should follow updates from expressway operators before travelling, particularly where floodwater, traffic diversions or closures may affect normal routes.

Anutin faces flood anger in Bangkok's Bang Khen

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul was shouted at by residents during a visit to flood-hit Bang Khen on 27 September, as communities along Khlong Prem Prachakorn called for more food and basic facilities.

Some residents at the Ruam Phatthana community shouted "Too rich!" as Anutin arrived at about 11.30am in a high-clearance vehicle operated by the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, after travelling from Don Mueang Airport.

They urged him to enter the flooded area. One resident joked that people would carry him to a boat so he could see conditions himself, adding that they had voted for him.

Residents seek food and toilets

Residents asked for mobile toilets, saying the flooding had made daily life difficult. Anutin asked whether elderly people remained in the community and urged them to move to shelters, warning that extended exposure to floodwater could increase health risks.

He said Bangkok authorities would arrange mobile toilets.

People also complained that food distributed on 26 September was insufficient. Anutin telephoned Defence Minister Adul Boonthamcharoen and told the ministry to establish a mobile kitchen.

While that was being arranged, he personally paid 3,000 baht to a meatball seller, 10,000 baht to a made-to-order food shop and 5,000 baht to a noodle shop to provide meals. He said the community should eat immediately rather than wait for the kitchen to open.

Anutin later visited the temporary shelter at Bang Khen School in Lak Si district, where he met flood victims and distributed relief supplies.

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28 September 2026

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PM was under pressure because of his response to the floods and this is a very clever way to take the heat off. The Thais will have forgotten already the government's incompetence on dealing with the floods.

Edited 3 hours ago3 hr by Pompeygeezer

4 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

Anutin asked whether elderly people remained in the community and urged them to move to shelters, warning that extended exposure to floodwater could increase health risks.

He said Bangkok authorities would arrange mobile toilets.

People also complained that food distributed on 26 September was insufficient. Anutin telephoned Defence Minister Adul Boonthamcharoen and told the ministry to establish a mobile kitchen.

Anutin with his finger on the pulse...

4 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

The announcement did not specify which expressway routes are covered.

The previous announcement specified the covered routes:

2 minutes ago, khunjeff said:

The previous announcement specified the covered routes:

1. Chalerm Mahanakorn Expressway (1st Stage Expressway)

2. Srirat Expressway (2nd Stage Expressway)

3. Chalong Rat Expressway (Ram Intra - At Narong and Outer Ring Road)

4. Burapha Withi Expressway (Bang Na - Cholburi)

5. Udon Rathaya Expressway (Bang Pa In - Pak Kret)

6. Bang Na - At Narong Expressway (S1)

7. Kanchanaphisek Expressway (Bang Phli - Suksawat)

8. Prachin Ratyao Expressway (Srirat - Outer Bangkok Ring Road)

"The most important thing is that people can use this holiday period to look after their own safety and that of their families," he said, adding that the government was ready to provide assistance and speed up efforts to limit the impact on residents."

That is absolute BS! Only a veteran politician could pull off that kind of deflection—subtly shifting the immediate burden of action onto the public to mask the genuine hardships people are facing.

"The announcement applies specifically to government offices in Bangkok, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani and Samut Prakan. Foreign residents should note that private-sector employers, international schools, shops, banks and other businesses are not necessarily required to close, and should check directly with their workplace or service provider."

No surprise there. Government workers and politicians get a free paid holiday, while the people who actually run the economy still have to go to work.

One observation I have on all this is that there doesn't appear to have been much, if any, advance warning which I find strange given the technology available these days on weather forecasting. Or did they simply not want to stick their necks on the block ?

People could have prepared better or even evacuated. Instead we see reactive rather than pro-active measures.

The useless government warning system messaged me around midday on Saturday to inform me of a problem.

I had already been watching the waters creep up towards my front door since 6am that morning...

As the waters started receding Saturday afternoon the local district office appeared with sandbags for distribution. Great.

I’m sorry for all the people affected. I left Pattaya on Thursday around noon, and managed to get to Bangkok without experiencing any problems with flooding. I’m staying in the lower Sukhumvit area and it didn’t seem to flood around here, or if it did, I missed it. Just a lot of rain, but even that has subsided for the most part and people are out walking around. Maybe I’ll be lucky this week.

More holidays and reactive measures. Never pro active or do things to prevent problems.

2 hours ago, khunjeff said:

1. Chalerm Mahanakorn Expressway (1st Stage Expressway)

2. Srirat Expressway (2nd Stage Expressway)

3. Chalong Rat Expressway (Ram Intra - At Narong and Outer Ring Road)

4. Burapha Withi Expressway (Bang Na - Cholburi)

5. Udon Rathaya Expressway (Bang Pa In - Pak Kret)

6. Bang Na - At Narong Expressway (S1)

7. Kanchanaphisek Expressway (Bang Phli - Suksawat)

8. Prachin Ratyao Expressway (Srirat - Outer Bangkok Ring Road)

If you can get to an Expressway?

22 minutes ago, realfunster said:

One observation I have on all this is that there doesn't appear to have been much, if any, advance warning which I find strange given the technology available these days on weather forecasting. Or did they simply not want to stick their necks on the block ?

People could have prepared better or even evacuated. Instead we see reactive rather than pro-active measures.

The useless government warning system messaged me around midday on Saturday to inform me of a problem.

I had already been watching the waters creep up towards my front door since 6am that morning...

As the waters started receding Saturday afternoon the local district office appeared with sandbags for distribution. Great.

Are you sure about any of this!

24 minutes ago, realfunster said:

One observation I have on all this is that there doesn't appear to have been much, if any, advance warning which I find strange given the technology available these days on weather forecasting. Or did they simply not want to stick their necks on the block ?

People could have prepared better or even evacuated. Instead we see reactive rather than pro-active measures.

The useless government warning system messaged me around midday on Saturday to inform me of a problem.

I had already been watching the waters creep up towards my front door since 6am that morning...

As the waters started receding Saturday afternoon the local district office appeared with sandbags for distribution. Great.

How do you know all this?

How long have you been in this part of the world?

45 minutes ago, realfunster said:

One observation I have on all this is that there doesn't appear to have been much, if any, advance warning which I find strange given the technology available these days on weather forecasting. Or did they simply not want to stick their necks on the block ?

People could have prepared better or even evacuated. Instead we see reactive rather than pro-active measures.

The useless government warning system messaged me around midday on Saturday to inform me of a problem.

I had already been watching the waters creep up towards my front door since 6am that morning...

As the waters started receding Saturday afternoon the local district office appeared with sandbags for distribution. Great.

The weather bureau warned 2 weeks ago this rain storm was coming.

For once they were correct!