Neighbourhood in Bangkok’s Bang Khen district still underwater

While floodwaters have receded from most locations in central Bangkok, the Saphan Mai neighbourhood in Bang Khen district is still underwater.

As of Tuesday (29 September), side streets and communities near canals in Saphan Mai are still flooded. In Ruamjai Pattana Nuea community, which lines a canal, several areas remain under deep floodwater. Some houses in the community are lower than the street level and are the worst affected. 

One resident said they own a boat and the district director brought residents food. The community flooded in 2011, when the water level was much higher, but this time the flood came suddenly and they did not have time to put her belongings on high grounds.

Another resident said that the 2011 flood was worse, but she could not go out to get supplies because she is elderly. Community leaders have been bringing her food.

Some residents have been scooping water out of their houses to prevent it from becoming stagnant. In some locations, the water is starting to become putrid as waste is caught in the area.

Another resident has been transporting people in and out of the community in a boat. The resident said that the water is now lower than before, but normal travel is still not possible.

Residents also said that people with two-storey houses can use the toilet and cook on the second floor, while those with single-storey houses cannot use the toilet or kitchen as the first floor of their houses are still flooded. Some said that they try to limit their water use, while others said they have been using trash bags in lieu of a toilet.

Residents said that food have been brought in by government agencies and other individuals, such as the Land Development Department, the district director, local community leaders, and People’s Party MP Suphanat Minchaiynunt. They would like the authorities to drain the water from the community so they can return to normal routine.

Meanwhile, stretches of Phahonyothin Road and its side streets remain flooded, such as in front of Big C Saphan Mai supermarket. Despite the flood, vendors have been setting up roadside food stalls, and deliver riders were coming back to work. For the locals, they still have to wade through water to get supplies, while some needed a boat to get through deep water in several locations. Some roadside shops were damaged by the flood and remain closed.

Parts of Bangkok have been flooded since Saturday morning (26 September) following days of continuous heavy rain, rendering several main roads impassable. Floodwater have now receded from inner city locations and most of the main thoroughfares. However, eastern districts like Bang Khen, Bang Kapi, and Lat Krabang remain the worst affected. These locations are now entering their fifth day of flood.