Over 100mm of rain poured into Khlong Toei and Bang Na districts of Bangkok last night, with similar heavy downpours forecast until Sunday, warned Somkuan Tonjan, head of the weather forecasting centre of the Meteorological Department today (Thursday).
He disclosed that the rainfall measured at the Queen Sirikit Convention Centre in Khlong Toei district yesterday was 132.5mm, which was the highest since the previous record of 108mm on July 30th, 1955.
At the port, also in Khlong Toei, rainfall was measured at 130.3mm, breaking the last record on July 5th, 1996. In Bang Na, 126mm was recorded, beating the previous record of July 13th, 2014.
In Min Buri district, 165mm of rainfall was recorded for the whole day yesterday.
Several low-lying areas, such as On Nut 71 and 39, were still under water this afternoon, forcing traffic to proceed cautiously.
Municipal police were deployed to help with directing traffic in Wattana district. City workers also removed several drain covers to facilitate the flow of water from road surfaces.
The boat service in Saen Saeb canal was suspended today, due to the water rising level in the canal, making it impossible for the boats to pass under the bridge at Wat Sriboonruang. The boat service operator said, however, that he will regularly review the situation to see whether or when the service can be resumed.
Ramkhamhaeng University’s public relations office announced the suspension of classes today at both the Ramkhamhaeng and Bang Na campuses, due to flooding.
Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt, accompanied by officials from the Department of Drainage and Sewerage, inspected the flooding and checked on water pumping stations. He also took a motorcycle to follow up on the situation this morning.
