BANGKOK, Sept 29 — Floodwaters have begun to recede, and traffic has returned to normal in many areas in Bangkok amid ongoing drainage operations, according to a Thai government spokesman.
Nevertheless, Ekkapob Pianpises said some communities and lanes remain inundated, and authorities are stepping up assistance to affected residents.
“Rainfall in Bangkok has decreased from the previous period, while drainage operations in many areas are continuing and traffic has returned to normal,” he said during a media briefing of the Joint Information Coordination Centre on the flood situation today.
Ekkapob added that Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has ordered relief and recovery measures to begin immediately to help affected residents return to normal life as soon as possible.
However, residents evacuated from low-lying areas along waterways in Klaeng district, Rayong province, have been warned not to return, as water levels in the Pra Sae Canal rose rapidly after heavy upstream runoff.
Water levels could rise further and overflow suddenly, and he urged residents of low-lying and downstream areas to remain vigilant and follow official warnings.
“Those who have evacuated must not return to low-lying areas along waterways and should remain in safe locations,” Ekkapob said.
Meanwhile, Thai Airways has cancelled 14 flights scheduled for today and tomorrow after flooding in Bangkok and surrounding areas.
The affected flights for today are between Bangkok and Udon Thani (TG008/TG009), New Delhi, India (TG315/TG316), Singapore (TG407/TG408), Kuala Lumpur (TG415/TG416), and Frankfurt, Germany (TG922/TG923).
The affected flights tomorrow are between Bangkok and Munich, Germany (TG924/TG925) and Brussels, Belgium (TG934/TG935).
Passengers seeking further information can contact the Thai Airways Contact Centre at +66 2 356 1111, which operates round the clock, or email contact@thaiairways.com.
According to local media, Bangkok was among 41 provinces affected by floods since September 16. The Interior Ministry confirmed that at least eight people have been killed and more than 580,000 households affected.
