Thailand Approves $122 Million in Emergency Funds After Deadly Floods

Thailand's government on Tuesday approved 4.1 billion baht ($122 million) in emergency funds for flood victims following a deluge that has affected over 2.6 million people and resulted in at least 19 deaths since mid-September.

The capital, Bangkok, is beginning to recover from days of torrential rain and widespread flooding, though some disruptions persist. Flights at Thailand's main airport experienced cancellations, leading to a significant baggage backlog. The Interior Ministry will distribute the funds to compensate those impacted nationwide, according to government spokesperson Ekkapob Pianpises.

While the rain has largely ceased in Bangkok, some eastern neighborhoods remain inundated. The city's governor, Chadchart Sittipunt, anticipates that traffic on most main roads will return to normal within two days, with lower-lying areas potentially taking up to seven days to dry out. Heavy rain is still forecast for other parts of Thailand on Tuesday, the Thailand Meteorological Department reported.

Damage to businesses across the country is estimated at 22 million baht (about $655,000), said Industry Minister Varawut Silpa-archa. As of Tuesday, residents in 29 of Thailand's 76 provinces were still affected by the floods. Four of the 19 recorded deaths occurred in Bangkok.

Thai Airways issued an apology to passengers for a substantial luggage backlog at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport, citing staff shortages exacerbated by the flooding. Hundreds of suitcases were observed at the arrivals area, prompting the Thai Air Force to deploy personnel to assist. Chai Eamsiri, the airline's CEO, stated that efforts are underway to reunite passengers with their belongings as quickly as possible. The airline also canceled more than 10 domestic and international flights scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday.

In the Bang Kapi district, one of Bangkok's most severely affected areas, residents navigated through floodwaters, with some utilizing small boats for transportation. A temporary market has been established on an elevated walkway outside a mall, with vendors from a nearby market where the water reached knee-high relocating to sell their goods. Lon Cheng, a vendor who has lived in Thailand for over 20 years, described significant financial losses due to the floods, noting that he could only sell 20,000 baht ($600) worth of goods from an initial stock valued at 70,000 baht ($2,100) on the first day.

Neighboring countries have also experienced severe flooding. In Myanmar, at least 10 people died and dozens remain missing following heavy rains that triggered widespread floods and landslides in the southern Tanintharyi region. Cambodia has reported flash floods in at least 10 provinces, impacting 44,889 families and forcing nearly 4,000 people to evacuate. At the ancient Angkor temple complex, workers have activated water gates and diversion systems to mitigate flood risks to the archaeological site.