Heavy rain in Bangkok. Photo: Daniele Aloisi / Shutterstock.com After heavy rainfall affected a number of provinces in Thailand, including Bangkok, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani and Samut Prakan, officials declared all 50 districts of Bangkok as disaster-affected areas. Now, the country is taking additional measures to limit travel in Bangkok and surrounding areas as severe flooding continues to affect communities across the capital and neighboring provinces.
The Thai Cabinet has declared September 28 and 29 special public holidays in Bangkok, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani and Samut Prakan because of heavy rain and flooding.
The measure is intended to reduce travel in affected areas, while government services will continue to operate online. Private companies, hospitals, financial institutions and state enterprises will decide individually whether to close.
The government has also extended free travel on eight expressways, as well as the M6, M7 and M9 motorways and the Don Muang Tollway, through midnight on September 29. The measure is designed to provide additional travel options and help people avoid flood-affected routes.
Bangkok authorities are now focusing on lowering water levels in several canals as they work to reduce flooding.
According to the latest update from PR Thai Government, light rain is helping drainage, while the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration is prioritizing the Saen Saep and Prawet Burirom canals.
The main canals could take around three days for water levels to fall, while some communities may need up to a week before conditions improve.
Police are also working to clear abandoned vehicles from affected areas. Residents looking for information about removed cars have been advised to contact their local police station.
The flooding has spread beyond Bangkok, with the government reporting impacts in 25 provinces, 128 districts, 587 subdistricts and around 2,500 villages as of September 27. More than 174,800 households, or about 545,000 people, were reported to be affected.
In Bangkok, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has been overseeing the response, with authorities instructed to coordinate personnel, equipment and vehicles to assist affected residents.
The government is also coordinating food and essential supplies for flood-hit areas, including Sa Kaeo and Lat Krabang, while authorities monitor shortages and possible price increases.
For travelers in Bangkok and the surrounding provinces, the situation remains fluid. Anyone moving through affected areas should check local conditions before setting out, particularly during the two special holiday days when authorities are trying to reduce unnecessary travel.
Despite the flooding, Thai authorities reported that Don Mueang Airport continues to operate as usual, and at the same time, the main means of transportation in the capital area continue to operate, although travelers are required to take into account congestion and disruptions on access roads.
Thailand Railways announced today, September 28, that it has changed the operating schedule of 8 trains on the Eastern Line, after parts of the track were still affected by flooding.
The origin and destination stations of several trains were moved from Bangkok Hua Lamphong Station to Ban Thap Chang Station. At the same time, it was reported that water levels in some areas have already begun to recede.
The national railway network has experienced additional disruptions in recent days. As early as September 26, Thailand Railways had to make changes to the northern line after flooding covered part of the track in the Hua Ngio area, closing sections and canceling several long-distance trains.
The special holiday is also affecting government services. The Immigration Department in Bangkok announced that its service centers will be closed on September 28 and 29, including the Chaeng Watthana Center, the Visa Extension Center at IT Square Laksi, and other centers.