Meteorologists say rainfall measured at 214-millimetres swamped the city’s Phra Nakhon District and that other areas including Yannawa and Din Daeng were not far behind. The end result was that flooding blackspots were awash with water which in some cases was thigh deep.
Affected roads and areas included Chatuchak Park, Din Daeng, Vibhavadi Road and Bang Sue Road. The flooding at Din Daeng meant that cars coming down from the Don Mueang Tollway could not exit. City officials were forced into opening up a U-turn to allow drivers to turn back for other exits.
The 12GO ASIA news team says that not all of Bangkok was flooded and some roads were bone dry by about lunchtime. A couple of the worst affected areas were still flooded early on Saturday evening.
The governor of Bangkok, Aswin Kwanmuang, apologised and claimed municipal officials had done everything they could to alleviate the flooding. Water management technicians note the city’s drainage system is only able to handle 60-millimetres of rainfall in one hit.
Deep floods in Bangkok close major roads at weekend
News in Asia
People in Bangkok woke up to flooded streets and a plea from city authorities to stay home on Saturday morning. Heavy rain lashed the Thai capital from midnight on Friday to almost dawn on Saturday and caused flooding on more than 50 streets.