Bangkok Governor Orders Schools Closed Monday as Floods Stabilize

At 1 p.m. on September 26 at the Bangkok Flood Control Center in Din Daeng district, Bangkok Governor Chatchat Sittiphand briefed officials on the flooding situation, joined by water drainage director Jetsada Chantraprapha, deputy governors Vishnu Sathsompol and Sannont Wang Saang Boon, and secretary Kunanop Lertpraiwal. The governor reported that flooding has occurred across multiple provinces, prompting Bangkok to declare 50 districts as disaster areas. According to the Meteorological Department's forecast, a low-pressure system is moving northwest and will dissipate. Morning meetings with multiple agencies assessed that rainfall in Bangkok should decrease by 10 a.m. The Meteorological Department predicts improving conditions, with rain expected to lighten from 2-3 p.m. and thin further by 4-5 p.m., improving water pumping capacity and reducing water levels.

Sittiphand noted that the Thonburi side faces fewer problems, while the Phra Nakhon area of Bangkok has received approximately 223 million cubic meters of rainfall. Pumping stations are operating at 1,200 cubic meters per second, with water drainage expected to take 2-3 days. Water from neighboring areas is also flowing in, but if rain stops, the situation should improve. Although some canals show critical levels, the Chao Phraya River's strong pumping capacity keeps it from crisis levels. All pumps are running at full capacity, including underground drainage tunnels along the Chao Phraya. Morning meetings with relevant agencies, particularly the Irrigation Department, coordinated redirecting water from Rangsit Canal away from Bangkok, with some diverted through Khlong Phra Ong Chao Chaiyanuchitr with minimal Bangkok impact. Samut Prakan faces severe flooding, while Pathum Thani and Nonthaburi are attempting to divert water to minimize Bangkok's impact, with some redirected to Chachoengsao province, particularly the critical Khlong Saen Saeb.

Sittiphand identified heavily flooded areas as sois and alleys near Khlong Don Muang, Khlong Lad Phrao, Khlong Saen Saeb, Khlong Pravesburirom, and Khlong Tawi Watthana, which impact residences more than main roads. He urged residents to move belongings to higher ground. At least 93 roads should be avoided, including Pong Phetch intersection, Nang Nong Wong Road, Ekkamai Road, Vibhavadi Road, Ramkhamhaeng Road, and Ladkrabang Road near the Khing Kaew intersection, among others. Real-time updates are available on Bangkok's website. The governor expressed confidence that extracting canal water will gradually relieve the situation. Regarding residents heavily impacted by flooding, particularly those in canal-side homes, 981 people have evacuated to shelter centers set up in nearby schools. Thirty-six bedridden patients have been transferred to hospitals, receiving support from military and government vehicles.