BANGKOK — 26 September 2026, Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt said the capital’s flood situation has stabilised and could begin improving by Saturday evening if no further heavy rain arrives. Bangkok Metropolitan Administration schools will close on Monday, while BMA staff whose work does not require them to be on site will work from home to reduce traffic.
Chadchart gave an update on the flooding at the BMA’s Flood Control Centre 2 in Din Daeng at 13:00 on Saturday, alongside senior drainage and city officials.
He said flooding has affected several provinces, prompting Bangkok to declare all 50 districts disaster-affected areas. According to the Thai Meteorological Department, the low-pressure system responsible for the heavy rain is moving westward and northward, and rainfall over Bangkok is expected to ease.
“The Meteorological Department’s forecast for the next period suggests the rain should improve. We should see it begin to ease around 14:00-15:00 today, and by 16:00-17:00 the rain should become lighter. That will allow us to pump water out more effectively, and water levels should fall accordingly,” Chadchart said.
He said the Thon Buri side of Bangkok has experienced relatively few problems, while around 223 million cubic metres of rainwater has fallen on the Phra Nakhon side. The city is currently pumping water at a rate of around 1,200 cubic metres per second, with drainage expected to take two to three days.
Additional water is also flowing into Bangkok from surrounding areas, although Chadchart said conditions should gradually improve if the rain stops.
Some canals remain at critical levels, but the Chao Phraya River has substantial drainage capacity and is not currently considered a major concern. All pumping stations and drainage tunnels along the river are operating at full capacity, he said.
Bangkok authorities have also coordinated with the Royal Irrigation Department over water released through Rangsit Canal. Officials are attempting to divert as much water as possible directly towards the Chao Phraya River rather than through Bangkok, while some water may be diverted through Phra Ong Chao Chaiyanuchit Canal.
Chadchart said flooding is particularly severe in Samut Prakan, Pathum Thani and Nonthaburi. Authorities are trying to divert water away from Bangkok, including towards Chachoengsao. Saen Saep Canal remains at a critical level.
Some of the worst flooding within Bangkok is affecting smaller streets, alleys and homes near Don Mueang, Lat Phrao, Saen Saep, Prawet Burirom and Thawi Watthana canals. While major roads may be less affected in some of these areas, homes along the canals face greater risks, and residents have been advised to move belongings to higher ground.
At least 93 roads should currently be avoided due to flooding, Chadchart said. Affected locations include Phong Phet intersection and Ngam Wong Wan Road, as well as sections of Ekkamai, Vibhavadi Rangsit, Ramkhamhaeng, Lat Krabang, Sena Nikhom, Chaeng Watthana, Srinakarin, Din Daeng, Phahon Yothin, Suwinthawong, Ratchadaphisek and Lat Phrao roads.
Residents have been advised to check the BMA’s real-time updates before travelling.
“If we can get the water out of the canals, it will gradually drain away. I believe our pumping capacity will help ease the situation,” Chadchart said.
The governor said residents living along canals have been among those hardest hit. A total of 981 people have moved into emergency shelters, many of which have been established at schools near affected communities.
Authorities have also evacuated 36 bedridden patients from flooded homes, primarily to hospitals because some require ventilators or other medical support. Vehicles and boats from the military, the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation and other agencies are assisting with evacuations of vulnerable residents.
Chadchart said the city expects to complete those evacuations by Sunday.
There is currently no overall shortage of food, he said, with the most serious transport difficulties concentrated in communities along canals. District offices have been instructed to help provide food and sandbags to affected communities.
Residents requiring urgent medical assistance for bedridden patients should call 1669. Those requiring general assistance, including sandbags or help with flood-related problems, should contact their district office or the BMA hotline at 1555.
Temporary parking is also available for residents concerned about flood damage to their vehicles. Chadchart said motorists can use BMA park-and-ride facilities, the Government Complex in Lak Si and participating shopping centres, including Central and The Mall branches, Fashion Island and Lotus’s. Further details are available through the BMA’s official channels.
Bangkok currently has 233 shelters with capacity for around 15,000 people. As of Saturday afternoon, 981 people were staying in them.
On Monday, BMA employees whose presence is not required for essential public services will be instructed to work from home. Staff involved in services such as public works and sanitation will continue working as usual.
BMA-run schools will also close on Monday to make travel easier and reduce the number of vehicles on Bangkok’s roads.
Chadchart said the situation could improve substantially by Monday if the weather follows current forecasts.
“At the meeting around noon, every district reported that things were progressing well. In summary, the situation is now stable. If there is no additional rain, it should gradually improve. But if more rain comes — and we cannot accurately predict how heavy it will be — people should remain cautious and move their belongings to a safe place first. Forecasting is not easy because the situation is complex,” Chadchart said.
He said the flooding would also provide lessons for improving Bangkok’s flood modelling.
“We had previously modelled what would happen if Bangkok received 300 mm of rain. It turned out that what happened was better than the model we had prepared, which showed flooding several metres deep. What actually happened did not reach the levels in the model. We will probably have to gradually adjust our model. This is one of the lessons we can use to improve,” Chadchart said.