Authorities in the Thai capital Bangkok declared a “flood disaster” across the city on Saturday 26 September 2026, after continuous rain began on Thursday afternoon and lasted until Saturday morning. The flooding closed roads and disrupted traffic, while some families were forced to leave their homes as water levels rose in several areas.
Canal water floods Bangkok roads
Bangkok’s main canals filled with accumulated rainwater after water levels exceeded 20 centimetres. Flooding was particularly widespread in the central and eastern parts of the capital, where roads were cut off and vehicle traffic halted. Photos and videos showed major roads submerged and cars abandoned by their owners after they could no longer be moved through the water.
Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt said the capital had recorded around 300 millimetres of rain since Thursday, adding that heavy rainfall was expected to continue throughout Saturday. He said the flooding was likely to begin receding once the rain stopped, while city officials continued working to drain the accumulated water as quickly as possible. Bangkok authorities declared a disaster in the capital’s five districts because of flooding caused by heavy rain.
The declaration gives local authorities the power to take emergency measures to deal with the effects of the disaster, while several shelters were prepared to receive residents forced to leave their homes. Authorities also opened some government facilities to provide parking spaces as disruption continued in parts of the city.
Emergency warnings as number of affected people rises
The government said residents in affected areas had received emergency warning messages sent by the relevant authorities through the cell broadcast system, alerting them to the risks of flooding and related procedures. Across Thailand, more than 84,000 people in 21 provinces had been affected by flooding by Saturday, with the central region bearing the brunt of the impact.
The Thai Meteorological Department warned that heavy rain would continue across most of the country until Sunday, amid a strong low-pressure system over the central region and strengthening south-westerly monsoon winds.
