Authorities in Bangkok have declared a disaster across all 50 districts of Thailand's capital after days of heavy rainfall caused severe flooding. The situation poses a threat to life, officials said on Saturday.

Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt stated that the eastern parts of the city were impacted most. He reported that almost 300 millimeters (11.8 inches) of rain had fallen since Thursday afternoon and warned that more rain was expected. "The rain keeps falling and we are doing our best. We are trying to pump the water out, but the water in canals is full," the governor said on social media, advising residents to move their possessions to higher ground.

"The risk areas are those who live near canals. Every canal is now filled," he said. Chadchart also urged bedridden patients dependent on life-saving medical equipment to consider a temporary stay in hospital. Emergency advisories were issued for people living near canals to move belongings to higher ground, and city officials opened shelters for evacuees.

Local vendor Somkid Pheuk-ngam told AFP news agency: "The water keeps coming in. It's hard to go out now. It's like at my waist level now. I cannot go anywhere. I have been closing my shop for two days now." She added that while she often gets flooded, "I think this time is worse than the 2011 flood."

Flooding across Thailand in 2011 killed more than 500 people and damaged millions of homes. Thailand's Meteorological Department warned that heavy rain would persist in most parts of the country through Sunday, pointing to a strong low-pressure system dominating the central region and strengthening monsoon conditions. More rain is forecast into Sunday.

Source: www.dw.com