Authorities in Thailand reported an increase in the death toll to 23 due to heavy rains and flooding. The capital city of Bangkok, severely affected by the downpour, experienced chaos at its main airport, with nearly 320 mm of rainfall in just three days, almost matching its typical September total. The government approved a substantial aid package to address the crisis.
Governor Chadchart Sittipunt of Bangkok anticipated that major roads would soon be free from floodwater, with complete clearance of inundated areas expected within a week. Recovery operations in areas where water levels have subsided were already in progress.
The Interior Ministry disclosed that a total of 23 fatalities, including four in Bangkok, had been recorded since September 16, affecting 42 provinces. The floods led to an estimated $520 million in damages across two dozen provinces, posing a threat to the economy heavily reliant on tourism.
Despite continued operations at Bangkok’s main airports, Suvarnabhumi Airport faced disruptions, impacting Thai Airways’ operations due to staff shortages. The airline planned to reduce approximately 30% of its flights from Bangkok for at least three days.
Amid the chaos, passengers like Emir Demiroez faced difficulties retrieving their luggage for connecting flights. The inability of airport staff to report for duty disrupted operations, leading Thailand’s tourism minister to criticize Thai Airways for the disruptions and call for proactive management to uphold the country’s reputation.
To address the flood impacts, the Thai government allocated over 4 billion baht ($168 million) for immediate relief efforts and approved a long-term drainage project costing 160 billion baht ($6.8 billion) to enhance flood protection in central Thailand, including Bangkok and surrounding areas.