Thai capital Bangkok declared disaster zone amid widespread flooding

Bangkok’s governor on Saturday declared Thailand’s capital city a disaster-affected zone after torrential rain led to widespread flooding, while the weather agency forecast thunderstorms ​over the weekend. Major roads were flooded with cars partly submerged and ​people were forced to wade through waist-height water after nearly ⁠300mm (12 inches) of rain fell within 48 hours. Bangkok Governor Chadchart ​Sittipunt said the crisis “poses a risk to people’s lives” and could damage ​public and private property, and that the situation was most severe near canals. The army said it is setting up shelters and field kitchens among other disaster relief efforts, ​while the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration has designated schools as temporary accommodation ​and asked residents to avoid unnecessary travel. Supermarkets were crowded with people stocking up on ‌supplies. “I’m ⁠worried too, because I haven’t stocked up on food beforehand, and I’ve never faced this kind of situation alone before, since my parents aren’t with me,” said 19-year-old Sansuk Laowatcharakul. The government on Saturday issued an emergency ​advisory for people living ​near canals ⁠to move possessions to higher ground. Before the warning, “I wasn’t aware enough to consider relocating,” said Bangkok resident Suppakarn ​Julavijitphong as he carried luggage from a condo surrounded ​by floodwater. The ⁠city’s main airport, Suvarnabhumi, was operating normally though the tourism authority advised travellers to allow an extra two to three hours in their plans. Thailand experienced ⁠its worst ​floods in decades in November when at ​least 145 people died and thousands of homes were damaged in the southern provinces.