Severe floods continue to affect large parts of Thailand as the dead toll increases day after day. On Tuesday, November 15th, authorities announced that 562 people died due to the flooding over the past three months. Today, 22 provinces, including Bangkok, remain under alert. In Bangkok, the situation remains chaotic as floodwaters continue to spread across the city. At the time being, Bangkok city centre remains largely unaffected by flooding; however, authorities warned that the Victory Monument area is at high risk through late November. Floods triggered social unrest: Angry residents have attacked flood barricades creating leaks while rallies have been organised, asking for a better management of the crisis. Severe road and transport disruptions are affecting the country. Bangkok’s domestic airport Don Muang is closed and authorities announced that the situation will remain unchanged until at least January 2012. Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi International Airport remains open.
Thailand is facing its worst flooding in decades. Since July, heavy rains have triggered severe floods in most of the country, affecting 13.2 millions of people and damaging seriously infrastructures. Currently, 22 provinces out of the 77 provinces are experiencing severe flooding conditions. The affected provinces are: Nakhon Sawan and Uthai Thani located in the northern part of Thailand. In the center of the country, the following provinces are flooded: Chai Nat, Sing Buri, Ang Thong, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Lopburi, Saraburi, Suphan Buri, Nakhon Pathom, Pathumthani, Nonthaburi, Samutsakhon, Samut Prakarn and Bangkok. In the Northeast, affected provinces are: Ubon Ratchathani, Srisaket, Roi-et and Kalasin. In the eastern part of Thailand, Chacheongsao, Nakhon Nayok and Prachinburi provinces are affected. In most of Thailand, the monsoon runs from May to October, with September and October being the peak of the rainy season. In the south-eastern part of the Thai peninsula, the monsoon runs from November to March.
Some western embassies warn their citizens against all but essential travel to some parts of the country, including Bangkok due to the flooding. Contact your diplomatic representation before leaving to Thailand. Moreover, travellers must be aware that several western embassies advise their citizens against all but essential travel to the southern provinces of Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat and Songkhla, where an Islamic insurgency is going on.
