BANGKOK, Thailand – Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt has urged residents still facing flooded roads to work from home where possible, while Bangkok authorities deploy high-clearance vehicles and coordinate with disaster officials and the military to clear bulky waste and begin major cleanups.
Chadchart said water levels had started falling in many areas, but some roads remained difficult to navigate, with vehicles abandoned during the flooding still obstructing traffic. Residents needing help with transportation can contact the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration’s 1555 hotline. He said Bangkok had deployed high-clearance vehicles to assist people stranded in flooded areas and would continue monitoring conditions while floodwater recedes.
Chadchart also acknowledged difficulties affecting some city staff, noting that some employees were themselves dealing with flooding at home. Bangkok street-cleaning crews normally begin work at around 4am.
With floodwater receding, the city has begun removing bulky waste from affected communities, seeking assistance from the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation and military personnel because residents cannot easily move large damaged items themselves. Areas that have dried out will then undergo major cleanup operations, with teams also preparing to help residents repair vehicles damaged by floodwater.
Chadchart said Bangkok had been coordinating with disaster authorities throughout the flooding, but acknowledged that the use of Cell Broadcast emergency alerts was new and required adjustments to internal procedures. Authorities need to determine when alerts should be issued accurately without causing unnecessary public alarm, he said.
