Bangkok flood response continues as rain eases but canals remain high
BANGKOK, September 28, 2026 — Floodwater remains a danger in parts of Bangkok even as the heaviest rain begins to ease. The city is continuing to pump water from streets and assist residents whose homes remain inundated, particularly near swollen canals and in eastern neighborhoods.
Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt expanded the city’s flood-disaster designation to all 50 districts on September 26, effective from September 25. The designation followed an earlier declaration covering Nong Chok, Suan Luang and Khan Na Yao. It gives agencies a framework for coordinating relief across the capital; it does not mean every street in every district is underwater.
Reports on Sunday put the number of people evacuated to shelters at nearly 4,900 and the number of affected households at about 52,000, citing the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration. Those figures should be treated as reported estimates rather than a newly verified Monday total: a current, consolidated citywide count was not available in the official updates reviewed for this article. In a separate, specific update on Sunday, the government said more than 400 people were staying at a temporary shelter at the King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang campus at the time of an official visit. That shelter count is one location, not a replacement for a citywide figure.
Where flooding remains a concern
City officials say canal levels remain high despite improving rainfall conditions, and water flowing in from neighboring areas can slow drainage. They have identified homes and roads near the Lat Phrao, Prawet and Saen Saep canals as affected. The Romklao housing area and parts of Lat Krabang have required particular attention because high water has made some homes difficult to occupy. Officials are arranging shelter space, food, drinking water and help for people who cannot readily leave on their own.
Road conditions vary sharply by location and can change within hours. Earlier city travel advice identified Ramkhamhaeng, New Phetchaburi, Ekkamai, Sena Nikhom 1 and Lat Krabang roads, along with sections of Vibhavadi Rangsit Road, as routes to avoid during flooding. That was advice issued for Saturday, not a definitive list of Monday closures. Drivers and passengers should check the city’s road-flood monitoring information and current traffic notices immediately before setting out rather than relying on an older route list.
The Thai Meteorological Department’s September 28 forecast expects less rain overall than during the worst of the storm, but still calls for widespread thunderstorms and isolated heavy rain in Bangkok. Less rainfall does not immediately clear water from low-lying streets or homes beside full canals.
Schools and services
Bangkok’s Education Office ordered schools under the city administration closed on Monday, September 28, because flooding and travel difficulties could affect safe access. Families at private schools should check their own school’s instructions rather than assume the same closure applies automatically.
The government also designated September 28 and 29 as special public-sector holidays in Bangkok and the neighboring provinces of Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani and Samut Prakan to reduce travel. It said government online services should continue. The decision is not a blanket closure of private workplaces, banks, hospitals or transport: those organizations must make their own operating decisions.
Travelers with flights should allow extra time to reach the airport and check both their route and flight status. The Tourism Authority of Thailand has activated its 1672 visitor hotline. No citywide shutdown of rail services or Bangkok’s airports was confirmed in the official updates reviewed here, so travelers should consult their operator for any route-specific change.
Getting help and staying safe
Residents needing flood assistance can contact the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation on 1784. Bangkok has identified 1555 as a channel for reporting residents who need help, including vulnerable people in flooded areas. For a medical emergency or help moving a bedridden patient, call 1669. People seeking shelter should ask their district office which nearby site is open and accessible before traveling there.
Avoid entering floodwater when another route is available, and do not drive into water whose depth cannot be judged. Keep away from submerged electrical equipment and report hazards to the authorities. Residents near rising canals should move essential belongings and medicines above expected water levels, follow district-level evacuation instructions and check on older neighbors or people who need assistance. Bangkok’s governor has cautioned that lighter rain does not mean the flooding in residential communities is over; drainage and relief work are continuing.
