World News
Flooding in Bangkok Kills 23, Throws Major Airport Into Chaos
Thailand’s government approved roughly $119 million in aid for flood-hit provinces, including Bangkok. The capital’s main airport is facing chaos, with hundreds of flights delayed or canceled.
Flooding in Thailand’s capital (Photo: under Section 27A)Bangkok (Photo: under Section 27A)
Thai authorities reported today (Tuesday) that the death toll from the heavy rains and flooding that struck the country’s capital over the past week has risen to 23. Authorities released the update on Tuesday. The government said that while waters are receding in Bangkok, which was hit hard, its main airport is operating under chaotic conditions.
According to a Reuters report, the government approved an aid package of more than 4 billion baht ($119 million) to address the consequences of the flooding. Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul added that a long-term drainage project, costing 160 billion baht ($4.8 billion), was also approved. Bangkok was inundated with about 320 millimeters of rain over three days, an amount close to what the vast, low-lying metropolis usually receives during the entire month of September.
The city’s governor, Chadchart Sittipunt, said that “floodwaters will drain from Bangkok’s main roads within two days, although it will take up to a week for other flooded areas to dry out. Recovery efforts are underway in areas where the water has already receded.”
Bangkok was among 42 affected provinces. The floods caused an estimated $367 million in damage across 24 provinces and threaten to weigh heavily on an economy that relies significantly on tourism.
Although Bangkok’s main airports continued operating, chaos prevailed at Suvarnabhumi Airport, the country’s largest. The national carrier, “Thai Airways,” reported that its operations were severely disrupted, as half of its staff could not get to work.
The airline said it intended to cancel about 30 flights, representing roughly 30% of its scheduled departures from Bangkok, on Tuesday, while also dealing with around 5,600 pieces of luggage from its flights that remained stranded at the airport.
“Nearly 100% of flights over the past two days were delayed, and fewer than 3% departed on time, because operational capacity could not be maintained,” said Thai Airways CEO Chai Eamsiri. He added that the company’s reduced flight schedule from Bangkok would continue for at least three days.
