Bangkok has been declared a disaster-affected zone after torrential rain turned parts of Thailand’s capital into a maze of floodwater.
Roads are submerged and residents are wading through water.
Almost 300mm of rain fell in just 48 hours, with some vehicles left partly underwater and floodwater reaching waist height.
More thunderstorms are forecast over the weekend, raising fears that conditions could worsen.
Governor Chadchart Sittipunt said the flooding “poses a risk to people’s lives” and could damage homes and public property, with areas near canals among the worst affected.
So what happens when the streets become rivers?
The army is preparing shelters and field kitchens, while schools have been designated as temporary accommodation.
Flood Preparations Intensify
Authorities have urged residents to avoid unnecessary travel, and people living near canals have been told to move belongings to higher ground.
Supermarkets quickly filled with residents stocking up on essentials.
Nineteen-year-old Sansuk Laowatcharakul said she was worried.
She had not prepared enough food and was facing the situation without her parents.
Suvarnabhumi Airport remains operational, although travellers have been advised to allow an extra two to three hours.
After deadly floods devastated southern Thailand last year, Bangkok’s latest crisis is another reminder.
When the rain keeps coming, how much water can a city really take?
