Bangkok has extended its flood disaster declaration to all 50 districts as authorities ramp up measures to assist residents affected by flooding.
Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt chaired a flood command meeting at 5am on Saturday at the Department of Drainage and Sewerage at Bangkok City Hall 2 in Din Daeng, with representatives from all 50 district offices and relevant Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) agencies in attendance.
Chadchart called for close coordination between district offices and central agencies to ensure assistance reaches affected residents quickly and comprehensively.
Under the expanded disaster declaration, district offices have been instructed to advise residents to document flood damage, including taking photographs before and after flooding, to support applications for assistance.
The BMA has also outlined seven key measures covering vulnerable residents, shelters, flood protection, transport, sanitation and emergency coordination.
District offices must identify bedridden patients and other vulnerable residents and work with public health centres and relevant agencies to assess their needs. Authorities will determine whether individuals require medical equipment, referral to healthcare facilities, local care or relocation to shelters, with resources and funding allocated for urgent operations.
BMA-run schools are being considered as the main temporary shelter locations because of their suitable buildings and toilet facilities. District offices must regularly report shelter occupancy and capacity, while also coordinating temporary parking with private operators for residents who need to evacuate.
Shelters must also have adequate supplies of food and drinking water, as well as proper sanitation.
Authorities have been instructed to ensure sufficient sandbags are available at vulnerable locations. The Department of Drainage and Sewerage will coordinate supplies of sand and sandbags, while district offices will organise personnel and work with residents to fill and position them where necessary.
Traffic management has also been stepped up, with district offices and municipal enforcement officers instructed to coordinate with traffic police and closely monitor road conditions. BMA and other agency vehicles will be mobilised to transport residents, while broken-down or obstructing vehicles must be removed promptly.
Officials will also monitor bridges and roads at risk from rising water levels.
As floodwaters recede, district offices have been ordered to clear rubbish and debris from drain inlets and drainage channels to improve water flow. Authorities will assess demand for mobile toilets and ensure hygiene and safety standards are maintained at shelters.
The BMA also stressed the importance of sharing information between district offices and central agencies, with the flood response to be reviewed continuously as conditions change. The next review meeting was scheduled for noon on September 26 via Zoom.
The city will continue monitoring water levels and local impacts while adjusting its response to ensure assistance reaches residents across Bangkok.
Residents who need help can report flooding, identify hazardous locations or request urgent assistance around the clock through Traffy Fondue, Bangkok’s problem-reporting platform, or the BMA hotline at 1555.
Residents can also contact LINE @Traffyfondue, the Bangkok flood prevention centre on Facebook, or the Flood Prevention System Control Centre at 02-248-5115.
For emergency medical assistance or transport for patients with medical needs, residents can call 1669.
