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2026 Bangkok floods

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2026 Bangkok floods
Image
Thunderclouds developing vigorously over Thailand
Date24 September 2026 (2026-09-24) – 29 September 2026 (2026-09-29) (5 days)
Location
CauseHeavy rainfall triggered by an active low-pressure system/tropical depression and strong seasonal monsoon conditions
Deaths23[1]
Property damage
฿11 billion+
(US$327 million+)[2]

On 26 September 2026 at 10:16 local time, a flood disaster emergency was declared in Bangkok following 48 hours of continuous heavy rain, flooding main roads[3] and triggering mass evacuations.[4] Over 300 mm of rain was recorded in certain parts of Bangkok with flood waters blocking main road traffic in 37 locations.[5] The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) reported that it will take between 2–3 days to drain the floodwaters after the rain stops.[6] Bangkok Authorities have declared all 50 districts of the city as a disaster zone.[7] It was the worst flooding to affect Bangkok in 15 years.[8]

Background

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Image
Map plotting the storm's track and intensity, according to the Saffir–Simpson scale
Map key
Saffir–Simpson scale
  Tropical depression (≤38 mph, ≤62 km/h)
  Tropical storm (39–73 mph, 63–118 km/h)
  Category 1 (74–95 mph, 119–153 km/h)
  Category 2 (96–110 mph, 154–177 km/h)
  Category 3 (111–129 mph, 178–208 km/h)
  Category 4 (130–156 mph, 209–251 km/h)
  Category 5 (≥157 mph, ≥252 km/h)
  Unknown
Storm type
triangle Extratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depression

On the morning of 24 September, the JMA reported that a tropical depression formed over Cambodia near Krong Siem Reap.[9] The system exited the basin the following day,[9] and the IMD began monitoring an upper level cyclonic circulation over southern Thailand and Myanmar related to the system on 26 September.[10] The following day, the JTWC issued a TCFA for the system, citing a high chance of development within 24 hours.[11] On 28 September, the IMD upgraded the well-marked low pressure area to a depression.[12] Later that day, the IMD upgraded the system further to a deep depression.[13] On 29 September at 00:30 local time, the JTWC cancelled the TCFA as the system moved inland.[11] Later that day, the IMD reported that the system weakened to a depression,[14] as the floods begin to ease.[15]

Impact

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Image
Flooding near Lak Si Station on 27 September.

A 58-year-old woman was killed after being electrocuted in the car park of a housing complex in Khlong Chan.[16] Two fatalities were confirmed in Bueng Kum district: a 73-year-old man who drowned after slipping and falling while moving belongings from his house and a 78-year-old bedridden man that drowned after being unable to evacuate in the same district.[17]

Bangkok shut over 400 schools run by the city on 28 September, as flooding persisted in the outer districts though the weather was improving.[18]

The Cabinet of Thailand approved 28 September and 29 September as a special holiday in Bangkok, Pathum Thani, Samut Prakan and Nonthaburi for people to "take care of themselves and their families".[19] On 28 September, a man was arrested for riding a jet ski in the flood waters in Huai Kwang district.[20]

On Suvarnabhumi Airport, flooding caused disruption on Thai Airways operations, limiting the availability of ground-handling staff.[21] This caused numerous flight cancellations to and from Bangkok on Tuesday and Wednesday, causing 5600 bags to be stranded inside the airport. 69 Thai Air Force personnel were called to clear the backlog and aid in ground operations.[22][23] CEO of Thai Airways, Chai Eamsiri, apologized over the luggage crisis and set a 72 hour target for the luggage to be cleared from the airport.[24]

Wider area

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The heavy rains that caused the Bangkok flooding were widespread across Thailand. Over half a million people have been affected in 25 provinces with eight dead as a result. Samut Prakan, just south of Bangkok, was the most severely hit.[25] Pattaya experienced flooding, although less severe than Bangkok.[26] On 29 September, the death toll from the floods rose to 23 people, including four in Bangkok, and caused at least ฿11 billion in damages.[2][1]

See also

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References

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  1. 1 2 Thepgumpanat, Panarat; Pookasook, Artorn (29 September 2026). "At least 23 dead in Thailand floods, Bangkok airport in chaos". Reuters. Retrieved 29 September 2026.
  2. 1 2 Wesshasartar, Napat; Thepgumpanat, Panarat (2026-09-28). "Thousands huddle in Bangkok shelters as Thai flood damages seen at over $320 million". Reuters. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
  3. ↑ Seddon, Sean (2026-09-26). "Bangkok roads submerged as flood disaster declared". BBC News. Retrieved 2026-09-26.
  4. ↑ "Heavy rain and flooding in Bangkok disrupts traffic and prompts evacuations". Associated Press. 2026-09-26.
  5. ↑ Pengpis, Pongsakorn (2026-09-26). "'แจ้งวัฒนะ' อ่วม น้ำท่วมสูง 50–60 ซม. หลังฝนถล่มทั่ว กทม.-ปริมณฑล". THE STANDARD (in Thai). Archived from the original on 2026-09-26. Retrieved 2026-09-26.
  6. ↑ "น้ำท่วมกรุงเทพฯ และอีกหลายจังหวัด เลื่อนเลือกตั้งบอร์ดประกันสังคม เรารู้อะไรบ้าง". BBC News ไทย (in Thai). 2026-09-26. Retrieved 2026-09-26.
  7. ↑ Staff, Al Jazeera. "Disaster zone declared across Bangkok as heavy rain triggers flooding". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 2026-09-27. Retrieved 2026-09-27.
  8. ↑ "Bangkok flood warnings 'came too late' Thais say, worst flood in 15 years". South China Morning Post. Agence France-Presse. 27 September 2026. Retrieved 29 September 2026.
  9. 1 2 WARNING AND SUMMARY 240600 (Report). Japan Meteorological Agency. 2026-09-24. Archived from the original on 2026-09-24.
  10. ↑ REGIONAL SPECIALISED METEOROLOGICAL CENTRE -TROPICAL CYCLONES, NEW DELHI SPECIAL TROPICAL WEATHER OUTLOOK (PDF) (Report). New Delhi, India: India Meteorological Department. 2026-09-26. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2026-09-28. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
  11. 1 2 Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert (Invest 92W) (Report). United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center. 27 September 2026. Archived from the original on 2026-09-27. Retrieved 27 September 2026.
  12. ↑ REGIONAL SPECIALISED METEOROLOGICAL CENTRE -TROPICAL CYCLONES, NEW DELHI SPECIAL TROPICAL WEATHER OUTLOOK (PDF) (Report). New Delhi, India: India Meteorological Department. 2026-09-28. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2026-09-28. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
  13. ↑ REGIONAL SPECIALISED METEOROLOGICAL CENTRE -TROPICAL CYCLONES, NEW DELHI SPECIAL TROPICAL WEATHER OUTLOOK (PDF) (Report). New Delhi, India: India Meteorological Department. 2026-09-28. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2026-09-28. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
  14. ↑ REGIONAL SPECIALISED METEOROLOGICAL CENTRE -TROPICAL CYCLONES, NEW DELHI SPECIAL TROPICAL WEATHER OUTLOOK (PDF) (Report). New Delhi, India: India Meteorological Department. September 29, 2026. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 29, 2026. Retrieved September 28, 2026.
  15. ↑ Saksornchai, Jintamas (29 September 2026). "Bangkok floodwaters begin to ease after torrential rains affect 700,000 people". AP. Retrieved 29 September 2026.
  16. ↑ "สลดน้ำท่วมเมืองกรุง หญิงวัย 58 โดนไฟฟ้าดูดเสียชีวิต คาลานจอดรถแฟลตเคหะคลองจั่น" [Tragedy strikes Bangkok during floods: 58-year-old woman electrocuted to death in parking lot of Khlong Chan housing estate.] (in Thai). Khaosod. 2026-09-26. Archived from the original on 2026-09-26. Retrieved 2026-09-26.
  17. ↑ "น้ำท่วมกทม. ดับแล้ว 2 ราย ผู้เฒ่าอายุ 70 กว่า ลื่มล้มจมน้ำ อีกรายป่วยติดเตียง หนีไม่ได้" [Two people have died from flooding in Bangkok. One, an elderly man in his 70s, slipped and drowned, while the other, a bedridden patient, was unable to escape.] (in Thai). Matichon. 2026-09-26. Retrieved 2026-09-26.
  18. ↑ Siradakul, Chattarin (2026-09-27). "Bangkok closes more than 400 schools amid continued flooding". Thaiger. Retrieved 2026-09-27.
  19. ↑ "ด่วน! ครม.เคาะ 28–29 ก.ย. หยุดราชการ ใน 4 จังหวัด รับสถานการณ์น้ำท่วม | Khaosod". LINE TODAY (in Thai). Retrieved 2026-09-27.
  20. ↑ "ศาลสั่งริบเจ็ตสกี-โทษจำคุกให้รอลงอาญา ปมหนุ่มซิ่งป่วนน้ำท่วม". Thai PBS (in Thai). 2026-09-28. Archived from the original on 2026-09-28. Retrieved 2026-09-29.
  21. ↑ "Luggage chaos, flight delays at Suvarnabhumi airport". Bangkok Post. Archived from the original on 28 September 2026. Retrieved 29 September 2026.
  22. ↑ "Thai Airways cuts flights, battles baggage chaos as Bangkok floods ease". The Straits Times. 29 September 2026. Archived from the original on 29 September 2026. Retrieved 29 September 2026.
  23. ↑ Boyle, Gary (29 September 2026). "Soldiers help clear baggage backlog at airport". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 29 September 2026.
  24. ↑ Ajanapanya, Nongluck (29 September 2026). "Thai Airways CEO Admits Fault for Baggage Crisis and Sets 72-Hour Clearance Target". Nation Thailand. Retrieved 29 September 2026.
  25. ↑ "Floods hit 11 districts in Ayutthaya, affecting over 46,000 households". Oct 10, 2025. Archived from the original on October 10, 2025. Retrieved Sep 29, 2026 – via www.bangkokpost.com.
  26. ↑ Sangkaew, Amporn (Jul 23, 2026). "Heavy rain causes flooding in Pattaya". Retrieved Sep 29, 2026 – via www.bangkokpost.com.
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