Eastern Bangkok under water

Eastern Bangkok is heavily flooded. All local canals are full and 15 main roads are deep underwater on Saturday morning, according to Bangkok governor Chadchart Sittipunt.

Mr Chadchart said on Saturday morning that rain in the capital started at 4pm on Thursday and accumulated rainwater was nearly 300 millimetre in Min Buri, Klong Sam Wa and Saphan Sung districts on Saturday morning.

“It has rained heavily in the eastern part (of Bangkok) and more rain is coming from Nonthaburi and Pathum Thani. Situations have not been relieved. A low-pressure area causes rain to circle above Greater Bangkok,” the governor said.

“We are fighting by pumping floodwater but all canals in the eastern part of Bangkok are now full. People living near canals are at risk,” he said. He referred to Saen Saep, Prawet, Lat Phrao and Prem Prachakorn canals. The governor recommended affected people move valuable belongings and vehicles to high ground because, he said, rain could continue.

Floodwater also flowed into the capital from Nonthaburi and Pathum Thani provinces, he said.

The flood risk recommendation was for people living near canals. Bed-ridden people in flooded areas would be moved to hospitals and other flood victims who must leave their houses could take shelter at the schools of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, the governor said.

According to BMA, sandbags are available for flood victims at district offices. If rain stops, floodwater should reside in six hours.

Regarding road traffic, motorists and commuters were advised to avoid 15 main roads which were heavily flooded.

The roads were:

Vibhavadhi Road (flooded from Chatuchak through Laksi to Don Muang)

Din Daeng Road (between Din Daeng and Asok-Din Daeng intersections)

Phahon Yothin Road (at five-way Lat Phrao intersection, Kasetsart University, Bang Bua, Laksi and Saphan Mai and from Saphan Khwai to Aree)

Suwinthawong Road (from Min Buri to Wat Saen Suk)

Srinagarindra Road (from Bang Kapi to Hua Mak, Pattanakan, Onnut, Seacon Square and Bang Na)

Ratchadaphisek Road (from Rama IX to Huai Kwang, Lat Phrao intersection and Ratchayothin)

Ngam Wong Wan Road (from The Mall Ngam Wong Wan to Kaset intersection)

Lat Krabang Road (from Suvarnabhumi airport to Ramkhamhaeng, Bang Kapi and Saphan Sung)

Pattanakan Road (whole route)

Lat Phrao Road (from Ratchada-Lat Phrao intersection to Wang Thonglang and Bang Kapi)

On Nut Road (from Sukhumvit 77 to On Nut 17, intersection with Srinagarindra and Prawet)

Phetchaburi Road (from Makkasan to Asok, Thong Lor and Ekamai)

Chaeng Watthana Road (from Laksi to Chaeng Watthana expressway)

Sukhumvit Road (from Bang Na to Udomsuk)

Ram Intra Road (from Bang Khen to 2nd kilometre marker of Ram Intra Road)

Alleys near canals were flooded. Meanwhile, there was not any flooding problem in the western side of Bangkok from the Chao Phraya River, the Bangkok governor said.

Bicycles fell in a flooded area on Lat Phrao 41 Road in Chatuchak district, Bangkok, on Saturday morning. Charoen Kittikanya