Asia Pacific
Severe flooding caused by heavy rains in Thailand has caused widespread destruction, submerging several areas of the capital Bangkok and forcing thousands of people to move to shelters in safer locations.
Severe flooding caused by heavy rains in Thailand has caused widespread destruction, submerging several areas of the capital Bangkok and forcing thousands of people to move to shelters in safer locations. At least eight people have been killed and more than 580,000 households affected by the floods across the country, while economic losses are estimated to exceed $320 million. According to media reports, on Monday, residents in several parts of Bangkok were forced to wade through waist-deep water, while roads and residential neighborhoods in some areas were completely submerged. Around 320 millimeters of rain was recorded over two to three days last week, roughly equivalent to the amount of rainfall Bangkok normally receives throughout the entire month of September. The heavy rains also disrupted the city’s drainage system.
The flooding has left Bangkok residents facing shortages of food. Bangkorn Diedanom, a 60-year-old Bangkok resident, said they were unable to prepare in time and had run out of food and drinking water at home. According to the resident, they had also been unable to stock up on essential supplies in time. Thailand’s Ministry of Interior said that 41 provinces across the country have been affected by flooding since September 16. More than 580,000 households have been affected, while more than 80,000 people remain stranded in areas from which they are unable to evacuate. Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior Anusit Sampantharat said that relief operations are continuing in affected areas with the help of mobile kitchens and boats. He said the goal is to provide all affected residents with three meals a day during the flooding, while plans are also in place to continue providing food for at least seven days after the floodwaters recede.
According to Reuters, At Pisanwanich, an economist at the Department of Economics at Rangsit University in Thailand, estimated that the floods could cause economic losses of at least 11 billion baht, or approximately $327 million, across the country. He warned that the losses could increase further if conditions do not improve. According to him, the flooding could reduce Thailand’s economic growth rate for this year by 0.3 percentage points, bringing it down to 2.1%. Growth in the third quarter of this year is also expected to decline by around 0.5 percentage points to 1.7%.
Thailand, the second-largest economy in Southeast Asia, has experienced slower economic growth than other countries in the region since the COVID-19 pandemic. In the second quarter of this year, the country’s economy grew by 1.9% compared with the same period last year, down from growth of 2.8% in the previous quarter. The economist said Bangkok and eastern areas are expected to suffer the greatest losses from the flooding, with wholesale and retail trade likely to be affected, while industries and agriculture in other areas could also face damage. The University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce also said in a statement that Bangkok alone could suffer losses of around 7 billion baht, while total losses nationwide could reach 12.3 billion baht.
In Bang Kapi, one of the areas worst affected by flooding in Bangkok, residents have been forced to wade through floodwaters to buy essential goods. Some shopkeepers have set up makeshift shops by placing their merchandise on floating plastic containers and drums. Local shopkeeper Marisa Srijunpleang said she had moved the goods from her shop outside so that customers could shop more easily. According to her, customers do not want to stand in the water for long, so she herself has to stand in knee-deep water while selling goods. According to a Bangkok administration official, at least 5,901 people have been moved to 234 temporary shelters across the city.
The flood situation has also worsened in Thailand’s eastern coastal province of Rayong. Authorities on Monday ordered residents to move to safer areas after water levels in two reservoirs exceeded their capacity. The province is located near one of the country’s major industrial areas. Bangkok is situated on soft soil near the sea and lies only about 1.5 meters above sea level. The city’s land is sinking by several millimeters every year, while the city, home to more than 8.4 million people, faces flooding during the six-month-long monsoon season each year. Last year, southern areas of Thailand also experienced devastating floods, with 630 millimeters of rain recorded over three days. The floods killed at least 145 people, submerged more than 33,000 homes, and damaged key facilities, including schools, hospitals, and highways.
