The death toll in Thailand due to heavy rains and flooding has increased to 23, authorities confirmed on Tuesday. Bangkok, the severely affected capital city, experienced approximately 320 mm of rainfall in just three days last week, nearly matching its usual September precipitation levels. The situation led to chaos at the main airport, although waters have started to recede.
The Governor of Bangkok, Chadchart Sittipunt, anticipates that major roads in the city will be cleared of floodwater within two days, but it may take up to a week to address inundation in other areas. Recovery operations are currently in progress where floodwaters have subsided.
Nationwide, at least 23 individuals have lost their lives since September 16, with four fatalities in Bangkok alone, as reported by the Interior Ministry. The floods have caused an estimated $520 million in damages across 24 provinces, potentially impacting the tourism-reliant economy.
Despite ongoing operations at Bangkok’s main airports, disruptions occurred at Suvarnabhumi Airport, the country’s largest, where Thai Airways faced operational challenges due to staff shortages. The airline plans to reduce approximately 30 flights from Bangkok, affecting about 30% of its scheduled departures, for at least three days.
Thai Airways CEO Chai Eamsiri acknowledged the flight delays and operational constraints, emphasizing the need for reduced flight frequencies from Bangkok. Passengers faced inconvenience, with numerous bags left stranded at the airport due to the disruptions.
Efforts to mitigate the impacts of the floods are underway, with the approval of funds amounting to over 4 billion baht ($168 million) by Thailand’s cabinet. Additionally, a long-term drainage project costing 160 billion baht ($6.8 billion) has been greenlit to enhance flood protection in Bangkok, the central region, and surrounding areas.