Thailand Faces Further Flooding as Storms Approach, Death Toll Reaches 31
Authorities warn of continued heavy rainfall and flash floods across the country, with over 3.5 million people already impacted.
Thai authorities have issued warnings of impending thunderstorms and flash floods across the nation, as the death toll from ongoing flooding since mid-September has risen to 31.
The Thailand Meteorological Department anticipates thunderstorms, strong winds, and heavy rain in much of upper Thailand from Monday through Wednesday, increasing the risk of flash floods, particularly in low-lying areas. Heavy to very heavy rainfall is also forecast for parts of the central, eastern, and southern regions, including the capital, Bangkok, over the weekend.
Recent days have seen significant inundation in many parts of Bangkok following persistent torrential rain. While conditions in the capital have largely improved, floodwaters remain in some lower-lying districts. Thousands were evacuated last week, and severe disruptions occurred.
Bangkok officials are implementing measures to mitigate future flooding, including draining water from main canals to enhance their capacity and deploying additional water pumps in vulnerable areas. The Bangkok City Command Center reported that the capital was declared a flood disaster zone, affecting approximately 329,000 households and around 700,000 people.
Nationwide, over 3.5 million people remained affected by the floods as of Monday, according to the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation. The 31 reported deaths were spread across eight provinces, with four fatalities occurring in Bangkok.
In response to the extensive damage, the Thai government approved emergency funds totaling more than 4.1 billion baht (approximately $122 million) last week to aid in flood recovery efforts.
