BANGKOK, Sept 29 — Over 2.6 million people and 940,000 households have been affected by extensive flooding across 29 provinces and Bangkok since mid-September, with 22 deaths reported so far, said the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department (DDPM).
Its director-general Teerapat Khachamat said the floods, triggered by heavy to very heavy rainfall and water flowing from the North into the Central regions, had affected 167 districts, 890 subdistricts and 5,077 villages as of 6am.
Bangkok recorded the highest number of affected households at 329,000, followed by Samut Prakan with 260,784, Chon Buri with 118,723, Pathum Thani with 113,323, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya with 28,176, and Chachoengsao with 19,346.
“The 22 deaths were recorded in Samut Prakan (eight), Sa Kaeo (six), Bangkok (four), Chanthaburi (two), Saraburi (one), and Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya (one),” he said in a statement today.
Water levels are still rising in several provinces, including Tak, Nakhon Sawan, Chai Nat, Sing Buri, Suphan Buri, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Pathum Thani, Nakhon Nayok, Prachin Buri, Chachoengsao, Sa Kaeo, and Chon Buri.
Teerapat added that the DDPM is closely monitoring weather and water conditions and has instructed provincial offices to accelerate assistance and deploy personnel and disaster-response machinery to affected areas.
“In areas where conditions are beginning to improve, authorities have been instructed to expedite damage assessments and rehabilitation efforts in coordination with relevant agencies, compile information on affected people and prepare assistance in accordance with applicable criteria and regulations,” he said.
Authorities will continue monitoring water conditions and issuing public warnings until conditions improve.
September is usually the peak of the rainy season in the country, but the latest flooding has revived memories of the devastating 2011 floods, one of Thailand’s worst flood disasters in decades, which affected more than 13 million people and caused billions in damage and losses.
