Bangkok under water: Torrential rain floods roads, forcing hundreds to evacuate- videos emerge

Torrential rain battered Bangkok on Saturday, flooding major roads, disrupting traffic and forcing hundreds of residents into shelters as authorities declared Thailand’s capital a disaster-affected zone.The deluge, which began on Thursday afternoon, left parts of the city under water, with some roads becoming impassable and vehicles partially submerged. Nearly 300 mm (12 inches) of rain fell in Bangkok within 48 hours, according to officials, Reuters reported.Thailand’s Meteorological Department warned that heavy rain and thunderstorms would continue across much of the country through Sunday, citing a strong low-pressure system over the central region and strengthening southwest monsoon conditions.Bangkok declares disaster zoneBangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt said the flooding posed a risk to lives and could damage public and private property, with areas near canals among the worst affected.Chadchart said floodwaters should recede once the rain subsides and that city officials were working to drain the water as quickly as possible.More than 200 shelters were set up across Bangkok, with around 900 people moving into them, the governor said. The army has also been involved in relief efforts, including setting up shelters and field kitchens.The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration designated schools as temporary accommodation and urged residents to avoid unnecessary travel.Roads flooded, businesses shutAccumulated rainfall in major Bangkok canals exceeded 20 centimetres (7.8 inches), officials said. Floodwaters spread across several parts of the city, particularly central and eastern areas.Phetchaburi Road, one of Bangkok’s busiest routes, was unusually quiet as vehicles were forced to turn back. Some cars were left partially submerged, while bikers were seen pushing their motorcycles through flooded streets.Many businesses remained closed on Saturday. Residents, some barefoot and others wearing rubber waders, waded through murky water while carrying food and drinking water. Some used plastic bags to protect their feet.Regional bus services from Bangkok to some eastern provinces were also suspended.Supermarkets were crowded as residents stocked up on essential supplies, while the government issued an emergency advisory urging people living near canals to move belongings to higher ground.More than 84,000 people affectedFlooding had affected more than 84,000 people across 21 provinces as of Saturday, particularly in central Thailand, the government said.Authorities sent emergency warnings through the cell-broadcast system to residents in affected areas. The situation also disrupted daily life for visitors and residents.Hwang Hwan-chung, who travelled from South Korea and has visited Bangkok more than 10 times, said he had never experienced such “crazy” weather and could not find a taxi.Sukanya Tongsuk, a local resident, compared the flooding with Bangkok’s widespread floods in 2011. "I think it's like 10 or 15 years ago that we saw heavy rain like this,” she told the Associated Press.Dutch resident Bjorn Franken, who has lived in Bangkok for two years, said he was able to cope with the flooding, although an event he planned to attend was cancelled.Airports operating normallyAir traffic control authorities said airport operations remained normal, although some flights could face delays because of weather-related route changes.Suvarnabhumi Airport was also operating normally, while Thailand’s tourism authorities advised travellers to allow an additional two to three hours for their journeys.Authorities continued to monitor the situation as heavy rain and thunderstorms were forecast over the weekend.Thailand had also experienced severe flooding in its southern provinces in November, when at least 145 people were killed and thousands of homes were damaged.You use AI every day. Now get your AI Quotient. Take the AIQ test.