Since September 24, almost 300 mm of precipitation has fallen in Bangkok, with water flooding roads and entering homes.
In some places, cars are half submerged, and people are moving waist-deep in water, writes the BBC.
A state of emergency has been declared in all fifty districts of the city. Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt stated that the situation "threatens people's lives" and could cause damage to public and private property.
According to the governor, the eastern part of the city has been most severely affected.
"The rain continues, and we are doing everything we can. We are trying to pump out water, but the canals are already overflowing… Residents whose homes are located near the canals are at risk. All canals are now filled to their limits," AFP quotes him as saying.
People living near canals are advised to move their belongings to upper floors.
However, meteorologists warn that thunderstorms are expected over the weekend, meaning other canals could also overflow. More rain is forecast throughout the week, although the low-pressure area that caused the downpours is expected to shift towards the central part of the country — Bangkok is located in the south.
Suvarnabhumi, the city's main airport, is currently operating as usual, but travelers are advised to allow an additional two to three hours for their plans.
The army reported that it is deploying temporary shelters and field kitchens. Those affected by the floods will be able to use schools as temporary accommodation. Residents are urged not to leave home or travel unnecessarily. Meanwhile, Reuters notes that supermarkets are crowded: people are stocking up on essential goods.
"I'm also worried because I didn't stock up on food in advance, and I've never faced such a situation alone before — my parents aren't around right now," 19-year-old Sansuk Laowatcharakul told the agency.
A resident of a water-surrounded condominium in Bangkok told Reuters that before authorities urged residents living near canals to move their belongings higher, she hadn't realized the seriousness of the situation and hadn't considered moving elsewhere. Journalists found her in the process of moving her belongings.
67-year-old Samkit Phyk-ngam, who lives near a canal in northern Bangkok, complained to AFP that her shop has been forced to close for two days.
"The water continues to rise. It's hard to leave the house now, the water is waist-deep. I can't go anywhere," she said.
In her opinion, the situation is even worse than during the widespread floods of 2011, which affected the entire country. Back then, extreme weather conditions persisted for three months, and hundreds of people died across Thailand. Currently, there is no information about casualties.
Thunderstorms are common for Thailand at this time of year, but the extreme weather conditions of recent days have led to an overload of the city's drainage system and caused traffic collapse on already congested roads.
Last November, Reuters notes, Thailand already experienced its worst flooding in decades. Thousands of homes were damaged in the southern provinces, and at least 145 people died.
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