Bangkok hit by heaviest rainfall in 25 years: BMA

Bangkok was hit by a combined rainfall of 203 millimetres on Friday night and before dawn on Saturday, the highest in 25 years, far beyond the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA)’s capability of coping with not more than 60mm of rain at a time, Bangkok deputy governor Chakkaphan Phiewngam said on Saturday (Oct 14).

As a result, Bangkok was flooded at 55 spots. Hardest hit were Ratchadapisek and Vibhavadi Rangsit roads, causing traffic congestion both on the inbound and outbound lanes.

However, the BMA’s water-draining tunnels at Bang Sue, Rama IX and Makkasan are working normally. He believed the flooding situation would be eased off by noon time.

“Whether the floodwater would be drained out quickly or slowly depends on the water volumes in the Chao Phraya River and various canals. Between 3 am – 5 am, the water level was pushed up by the high tide. After 5 am, the Drainage and Sewerage Department opened all watergates, allowing water to be drained out quickly.

“The volume of rainwater last night was really high, but we would not take it as an excuse. The BMA will try to drain water out as soon as possible,” Mr Chakkaphan said.

As of 12.50pm, the BMA was able to drain water out from 49 spots, leaving only six spots underwater.

The Thai Meteorological Department said the heavy downpours last night was a result of the monsoon system lying across the Central Region, upper South and the East. Augmented by a high-pressure wedge covering the Northeast, the monsoon became stronger and caused heavy rain.

Bangkok will continue to have much rain, covering 60-70% of its area, until next week, the department said.

Thai PBS

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