Thailand floods leave 2.6 million people affected across 29 provinces

Flooding across Thailand remained severe on Tuesday, with more than 2.6 million people affected in 29 provinces and Bangkok and a death toll of 23 since Sept. 16, the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation said.

A 6 a.m. situation report counted flooding in 167 districts, 890 subdistricts and 5,077 villages, hitting 940,300 households. Water was rising in 14 provinces, stable in six plus Bangkok, and falling in nine. Samut Prakan had the largest caseload, with about 819,000 people affected and eight deaths. Bangkok floods since Sept. 25 have hit roughly 329,000 households—about 700,000 people—with four deaths; authorities opened 233 temporary shelters.

The Central Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Command issued its fifth Chao Phraya basin warning. Chao Phraya Dam is expected to release 1,500 to 2,000 cubic metres per second over the next one to nine days, which could lift downstream levels by about 0.70 to 1.70 metres. The meteorological agency said overall rain should ease, though very heavy showers remain possible in the western North and parts of the Central and East regions.