Late yesterday afternoon, heavy rainfall caused widespread flooding across Bangkok’s main roads, sois, and expressways. If you weren’t one of the poor souls stuck in the nightmare traffic yesterday, then consider yourself lucky.
According to Thai PBS, the heaviest rainfall fell in Bang Sue. Many areas were turned into 5-30 centimeter deep klongs (canals), including Lat Phrao, Chaeng Wattana, Pongpetch market, and the Bang Khen circle on Phahonyothin road.
Cars were stuck in standstill traffic, and some cars remained that way for up to four hours. Some netizens reported eating dinner in their cars.
Preparations are currently being made to get Bangkok ready for more heavy downpours and high tides, according to Bangkok Post.
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) executives met to discuss the water situation yesterday, saying that areas near the Chao Phraya river are the most worrying, since there are not yet any flood walls.
The heavy rain yesterday was an indicator of what’s to come. There is currently a monsoon trough lingering over Bangkok that will bring more wet days, according to deputy BMA spokesman Bensai Keeyapaj.
Other provinces, like Ayutthaya, have began taking measures to prepare themselves for flood. They have asked irrigation authorities to open sluice gates to divert water that could overflow from the Noi river into nearby rice paddies.
Fortunately, water experts say that they we’re unlikely to experience floods like we did back in 2011.
However, with the impact of the La Niña wet weather phenomenon, Thailand’s rainy weather might last for longer than we want it. Experts say that it might drag on until early next year.
Better start stocking some snacks in the car, just in case you get caught in a Bangkok flood.
Photos: Thai PBS
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