The death toll from heavy rain and flooding in Thailand had risen to at least 23 by Tuesday, 29 September 2026, including four people in the capital Bangkok, while the effects of the floods had spread to 42 provinces since 16 September, according to a statement by Thailand’s Interior Ministry. The latest toll came after the Health Ministry reported the previous day that 19 people had died in floods that were then affecting 23 provinces, while 49 health facilities had also been damaged.
The ministry issued eight guidelines for dealing with the crisis, including monitoring high-risk areas and speeding up the transfer of patients and vulnerable groups. The government said stagnant water in Bangkok could take between two and three days to recede, provided there was no further rain.
Heavy rain floods Bangkok and wide areas
The capital received about 320 millimetres of rain over two or three days, a volume approaching the total rainfall the geographically low-lying city receives throughout September. Bangkok authorities declared all 50 districts of the capital disaster-affected areas after water flooded neighbourhoods and major roads and the drainage network was unable to cope with the volume of rain.
Data from Bangkok’s Flood Control Centre showed that the rain had affected about 329,000 households, or roughly 700,000 people, while thousands of residents sought refuge in temporary shelters. Although water levels had begun to fall in some parts of the capital, low-lying neighbourhoods and major roads remained flooded, particularly in eastern Bangkok.
City officials said rising water levels in four major canals during the peak of the rainfall had limited their ability to receive wastewater from residential areas, before improved conditions allowed pumping and drainage operations to be accelerated. The floods caused widespread disruption to transport and businesses.
Floods disrupt air travel and transport in the capital
Thai Airways chief executive Chai Eamsiri said the company planned to cut about 30 flights from Bangkok on Tuesday, equivalent to roughly 30 per cent of scheduled departing flights, with the reductions set to continue for at least three days. Eamsiri added that most flights over the previous two days had been delayed, while fewer than three per cent had departed on time because the airline was unable to maintain its usual operating capacity.
Although Bangkok’s two main airports continued operating, baggage-handling operations were severely affected at Suvarnabhumi Airport. Authorities called in 69 members of the Thai air force to assist with ground operations, while about 5,600 bags belonging to Thai Airways passengers remained stranded at the airport. The company said it expected to finish processing the delayed baggage within 72 hours.
Government allocates relief funding and drainage development funds
The cabinet approved more than 4 billion baht, equivalent to about 119 million US dollars, to address the effects of the floods, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said. The government also approved a long-term water-drainage development project costing 160 billion baht, as part of efforts to reduce the risk of water accumulation in Bangkok and surrounding areas.
Industry Minister Varawut Silpa-archa said the floods had affected 1,267 business establishments across 40 provinces, including 52 factories and 1,162 small and medium-sized enterprises. The economic losses caused by the floods nationwide were estimated at more than 320 million US dollars.
By Sunday, the floods had affected more than 545,000 people outside Bangkok, particularly in central and eastern areas, and had led to the suspension of some long-distance bus and train services. Airports continued to operate, but travellers faced delays and disruption to flights and ground services.
Rainfall eases as weather warnings remain in place
Thailand’s Meteorological Department said on 29 September that rainfall had begun to ease, while heavy to very heavy rain remained possible in parts of the north, central and eastern regions.
It warned of the risks of flash floods, water run-off and mudslides, while emergency teams continued evacuating residents, pumping water and delivering supplies to affected people.
