Bangkok swamped, local communities flee

Bangkok swamped, local communities flee

Thousands of residents in Bang Phlat and Bangkok Noi district near the Chao Praya river in western Bangkok are leaving the Thai capital

Thousands of residents in Bang Phlat and Bangkok Noi district near the Chao Praya river in western Bangkok are leaving the Thai capital, which has been hit by floods since last weekend.

Flash floods and landslides caused by the heavy monsoon rains and overflowing dams in northern Thailand since late July have killed a total of 356 people and affected about 9.1 million people, according to the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation.

Thailand is experiencing its worst flooding in 50 years, costing as much as US$6bil in damages so far, a figure which is expected to increase as the floods swamp Bangkok.

Pong Pan