Bangkok Floodwaters Expected to Recede Within Three Days
Thailand expects Bangkok’s floodwaters to recede within days as Thai Airways faces flight cancellations and baggage delays
Floodwaters disrupt Bangkok as Thailand works to restore transport and business operations.
BANGKOK: Floodwaters across Thailand’s capital are expected to clear within three days if the city receives no further heavy rainfall, the government said on Wednesday.
Bangkok received around 320 millimetres of rain over two to three days last week. The rainfall was almost equal to the amount the low-lying capital normally receives throughout September.
Government spokesperson Ekkapob Pianpises said authorities were monitoring the situation and preparing longer-term flood recovery measures.
The cabinet is also expected to discuss long-term plans to tackle flooding and improve recovery efforts.
Thai Airways Faces Flight and Baggage Delays
Although Bangkok’s main airports continued operating during the heavy rain, flooding severely disrupted baggage handling at Suvarnabhumi Airport.
The Thai Air Force deployed 69 personnel on Monday to assist with ground operations for national flag carrier Thai Airways.
Hundreds of bags remained lined up inside the airport on Tuesday as passengers waited for delayed luggage.
Thai Airways said 34 flights were delayed on Monday. The airline also reported that baggage from 52 flights operated on September 26 and 27 was being delivered to passengers.
The airline later announced the cancellation of eight flights on Tuesday because of the flooding and aircraft rotation problems.
Thai Airways warned that additional cancellations or schedule changes could follow if the disruption continued.
Flooding Hits Businesses Across Thailand
The flooding has also affected businesses across the country.
Thailand’s Industry Minister Varawut Silpa-archa said 1,267 businesses in 40 provinces had been affected.
The affected businesses included 52 factories and 1,162 small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
Nationwide economic losses from the flooding have been estimated at more than $320 million, adding pressure on businesses and local communities already dealing with severe weather disruption.
Authorities are now focusing on clearing floodwaters while preparing longer-term measures to reduce the impact of future flooding.
