Climate News

Bangkok declares all 50 districts a disaster zone after nearly 300mm of rain

Bangkok declared a disaster zone across all 50 districts of the Thai capital on Saturday 26 September, after three days of heavy rain. Al Jazeera reported that Governor Chadchart Sittipunt said almost 300mm of rain had fallen since Thursday afternoon. Water flooded roads and canals and got into homes and shops. The east of the city was hit hardest. The declaration gives local organisations the authority to act.

"Every canal is now filled." — Bangkok governor Chadchart Sittipunt, via Al Jazeera

Later on Saturday, the government said the situation had "stabilised", but that the water would take two or three days to drain if no more rain fell. A 67-year-old vendor told AFP the flood was "worse than the 2011 flood". Widespread floods in Thailand in 2011 killed more than 500 people.

How each outlet framed it

• Al Jazeera — residents' worries, with its correspondent saying this was persistent rain across the whole city, not a short flash flood.
• The Guardian — the weather: a low-pressure system that moved north-west up the Gulf of Thailand and stayed over central Thailand. A station near Prachin Buri recorded 213.5mm in 24 hours.
• The Star — the Malaysian paper led on all 50 districts being declared, with canals full and roads underwater.
• Gulf News — the citywide disaster declaration as heavy rain caused severe floods.

What happened next: the Guardian reported that the low-pressure system moved north-west on Sunday, ending the heaviest rain, though some markets in the city were still under water on Monday.

What we don't know yet: the full cost of the damage to homes and businesses near the canals, which the governor said were most at risk.