Disaster zone declared across Bangkok as heavy rain triggers flooding

Nonstop rain since Thursday has submerged Thai capital’s roads and canals, sending water into many homes and stores.Bangkok authorities have declared a disaster zone across all 50 districts of Thailand’s capital after three consecutive days of rainfall caused heavy flooding.The disaster designation, which gives local organisations authority to take action, came on Saturday after Governor Chadchart Sittipunt said almost 300mm (11.8 inches) of rain had fallen since Thursday afternoon.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4Nepal’s leader labels devastating flood a ‘warning to the world’list 2 of 4Rescuers search for survivors after Nepal–China floods kill at least 165list 3 of 4Can a Warming Arctic become an important commercial highway?list 4 of 4El Nino reaches super status: Where will it bring rain, drought and heat?end of listThe nonstop rain inundated roads and canals with water, sending water into many homes and stores alongside them, according to reports. Photos and videos showed major roads submerged and cars abandoned after drivers were unable to move through the rising water.Chadchart said the east of the city was most impacted and warned that more rain was forecast again on Saturday. He added that flooding should recede once the rain subsides, as city officials work to drain floodwaters as quickly as possible.“The rain keeps falling and we are doing our best. We are trying to pump the water out, but the water in canals are full,” he said on social media. “The risk areas are those who live near canals. Every canal is now filled.”Later on Saturday, the government said the flooding situation had “stabilised” but added it would still take two or three days for the water to drain, as long as the rain held off. “If more rainwater doesn’t fall in the area, it will be solved,” he said.People walk past abandoned vehicles on a flooded Phetchaburi Road in Bangkok on September 26, 2026 [Lillian Suwanrumpha/AFP]Chadchart also advised residents to move their cars to higher ground, as Bangkok’s public transport authority offered free access to MRT train “park and ride” carparks to store their vehicles until October 2.