Floods hit Bangkok as more than 84,000 affected across Thailand

BANGKOK: Heavy rain has triggered flooding in Bangkok, disrupting traffic and forcing hundreds of residents into shelters.

According to the Associated Press (AP), more than 84,000 people in 21 provinces across Thailand had been affected by floods as of Saturday, with the central region hit hardest.

That figure covers all affected areas in Thailand, not Bangkok alone.

In Bangkok, more than 200 shelters have been opened and about 900 residents have moved into them, said Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt.

He said the floods were expected to recede once the rain eased, as city authorities worked to drain the water as quickly as possible.

According to the report, accumulated rainfall in Bangkok's main canals exceeded 20 centimetres. Floodwaters spread across central and eastern parts of the city, submerging roads and forcing many businesses to close on Saturday.

The Thai Meteorological Department warned that heavy rain would persist across most of the country until Sunday, driven by a strong low-pressure system over the central region and an intensifying southwest monsoon.

Airport operations were normal, although some flights could face delays, while bus services to eastern provinces were suspended.

No deaths were mentioned in the report.