Bangkok has been declared a disaster-affected zone after torrential rain flooded large parts of Thailand’s capital, leaving homes, shops and roads under water and prompting thousands of residents to move to evacuation centres. Around 320 mm (12.6 inches) of rain fell over two or three days last week, nearly matching the amount the low-lying city typically receives throughout September. Residents in several neighbourhoods were forced to navigate waist-deep water as transport services and daily activities were disrupted.

The flooding has affected roads, public transport, shops and essential services across the metropolitan area. Sunisa Manora, a resident of Pathum Thani near Bangkok, described the situation as among the worst she had experienced in years, saying major roads were flooded and access to metro stations had become difficult. She also reported long waits and higher fares for taxis, while food deliveries had stopped in inundated areas. Some shops reportedly ran short of essential supplies as residents rushed to stock up.

Residents have also faced power and water shortages in some areas. Nattapon Mankean, 32, told AFP that his apartment complex in Bang Kapi, eastern Bangkok, lost electricity and running water, prompting him and his girlfriend to leave with their two cats. At least 5,901 people in Bangkok had moved to 234 evacuation centres, according to a city administration official, while Interior Minister Unsit Sampuntharat said more than 80,000 people remained unable to leave their homes because of flooding. Authorities have deployed boats and mobile kitchens to support affected communities.

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The flooding has also disrupted travel, with heavy showers affecting transportation and flights. Social media posts showed residents moving through flooded streets while vehicles struggled to operate in several areas. Thailand has reported flooding in 41 provinces since September 16, with at least eight deaths and more than 580,000 homes affected, according to the Interior Ministry. In the eastern province of Rayong, authorities ordered evacuations after floodwaters caused two reservoirs to exceed their capacity.

Bangkok’s vulnerability to flooding is compounded by its geography and rapid urban development. The city sits on the Chao Phraya River delta on soft clay at only around 1.5 metres (5 feet) above sea level and is reported to be sinking by several millimetres each year. Thailand is also in its six-month rainy season, during which intense rainfall can place additional pressure on drainage and flood-control systems.

The flooding is expected to have economic consequences beyond Bangkok. Rangsit University economist Aat Pisanwanich estimated nationwide economic damage at at least 11 billion baht ($327 million), with losses potentially increasing if conditions do not improve. He said the flooding could reduce Thailand’s 2026 GDP growth by 0.3 percentage points to 2.1 per cent, while third-quarter growth could be reduced by about 0.5 percentage points to 1.7 per cent. The latest flooding follows severe southern floods last year, when 630 mm of rain fell in three days, killing at least 145 people and damaging thousands of homes and critical infrastructure.

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