Floodwaters have receded in many parts of Bangkok after torrential rain eased on Sunday, but residents in some flooded neighbourhoods remain stranded in their homes.
The Thai capital was declared a disaster-affected zone after torrential rain over 48 hours led to widespread flooding on Saturday. The rain eased on Sunday, allowing authorities to accelerate efforts to drain canals and lower water levels.
But the weather agency is forecasting widespread thunderstorms and isolated heavy rain for Monday.
Major roads were flooded and cars submerged over the weekend, with people forced to wade through waist-high water, after nearly 300mm of rain fell in only 48 hours.
Arita Sanpoka, 33, a resident of a flooded community, said two neighbours in their 80s remained stranded in their home because they could not get downstairs.
"Right now the water in my house is up to waist height," Arita said. "Everything in the house is ruined."
She said daily life had become difficult, with power cut off on the ground floor and the bathroom unusable as the water level continued to rise.
Authorities said 233 temporary shelters had been prepared and about 4,200 people were using the facilities.
The flooding affected neighbourhoods across the capital, with water entering homes and disrupting transport. Some areas became difficult to access, while residents were forced to wade through the water.
Authorities were continuing to pump water from major canals and assist residents in areas where flooding remained severe.
Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt said the crisis "poses a risk to people's lives" and could damage public and private property. The situation was most severe near canals, he added.
The Thai military said it would set up shelters and field kitchens to aid disaster relief efforts, while the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration has designated schools as temporary accommodation and asked residents to avoid unnecessary travel.
Supermarkets were crowded with people stocking up on supplies.
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A child is led through floodwater on a bicycle on Ramkhanghaeng Road in Bangkok, Thailand. Nearly 300mm of rain have fallen since Thursday. Getty Images -
A metre of floodwater closes in on vendors selling vegetables in the Bang Kapi district of the Thai capital. AFP -
Authorities have declared a public disaster across all 50 districts of Bangkok that have been swamped by the torrential rain and flooding. AFP -
A woman is pulled through the floodwater in Bangkok on an inflatable boat. AFP -
Cars were left abandoned and many homes were inundated. AFP -
The Royal Thai Army has been drafted in to help. Getty Images -
A woman and baby are rescued from the rising water levels by boat. Reuters -
Residents are finding innovative ways to plough through the flooded streets. AFP -
A woman boards a bus, which is still running despite major roads being submerged. The Bangkok governor has urged residents to stay at home until the flooding subsides. Getty Images -
A man wades through chest-high water as heavy rain continues to fall on Bangkok. Reuters
"I'm worried too, because I haven't stocked up on food beforehand, and I've never faced this kind of situation alone before, since my parents aren't with me," said teenage Bangkok resident Sansuk Laowatcharakul.
The government on Saturday issued an emergency advisory for people living near canals to move personal items to higher ground. "I wasn't aware enough to consider relocating" before the warning was issued, said Bangkok resident Suppakarn Julavijitphong.
The city's main airport was operating normally, although the tourism authority advised travellers to allow an extra two to three hours to pass through the hub.
Thailand experienced its worst floods in decades in November when at least 145 people died and thousands of homes were damaged in the country's southern provinces.
