Bangkok canals being drained ahead of more rain

Flood drainage is being sped up in eastern areas of Bangkok ahead of heavy rain forecast over several days later this week.

The pumps were working full time in flooded Kheha Romklao community in Lat Krabang district and Sai Mai and Or Ngern communities in Sai Mai district, deputy government spokeswoman Lalida Persvivatana said on Monday.

It was expected the flood would be drained off in two days.

Ms Lalida advised motorists to avoid still-deeply flooded Chalong Krung Road in Lat Krabang and Nong Chok districts.

The city drainage and sewerage department said it was accelerating the drainage of water from  major canals and installing more pumps to prevent fresh flooding in Klong Sam Wa, Lat Krabang, Sai Mai and Saphan Sung districts, with heavy rain forecast for Monday, Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday.

The Chao Phraya River in Bangkok was currently at 1.72 metres, which was 1.28m below the embankments of the capital.

City Hall workers had so far collected about 1,400 tonnes of garbage in big bags from flood-damaged areas, Ms Lalida said. More than 14,000 victims had filed for flood compensation through the website . Most claimants were in Bang Kapi, Lat Krabang and Sai Mai districts.

She said 458,987 flood-affected families in Bangkok registered for assistance via the government's Thang Rath super app. The app received similar requests from 149,194 families in Samut Prakan, 130,010 families in Pathum Thani and 42,531 families in Chachoengsao.

Discarded, flood-ruined furniture dumped on the side of Nawamin 12 Road in Khlong Chan sub-district of Bang Kapi, Bangkok, on Monday. Prinya Muangarkas