Eastern Bangkok is heavily flooded, with all local canals full and 15 main roads deeply inundated on Saturday morning, according to Bangkok governor Chadchart Sittipunt.

Mr Chadchart said on Saturday morning that rain in the capital began at 4pm on Thursday, with accumulated rainfall nearing 300 millimetres in Min Buri, Klong Sam Wa and Saphan Sung districts by Saturday morning.

“It has rained heavily in the eastern part of Bangkok, and more rain is coming from Nonthaburi and Pathum Thani provinces. The situation has not improved. A low-pressure area is causing rain to circulate over Greater Bangkok,” the governor said.

“We are trying to cope by pumping out floodwater, but all canals in eastern Bangkok are now full. People living near canals are at risk,” he said, referring to Saen Saep, Prawet, Lat Phrao and Prem Prachakorn canals. He advised affected residents to move valuables and vehicles to higher ground as the rain could continue.

Floodwater also flowed into the capital from Nonthaburi and Pathum Thani, he said.

The flood risk recommendation was for people living near canals. Bed-ridden people in flooded areas would be moved to hospitals and other flood victims who must leave their houses could take shelter at the schools of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), Mr Chatchart said.

According to BMA, sandbags are available for flood victims at district offices. If rain stops, floodwater should reside in six hours.

Regarding traffic, motorists and commuters were advised to avoid 15 main roads that were heavily flooded.

The roads were:

•     Vibhavadi Road (flooded from Chatuchak through Lak Si to Don Muang)
•     Din Daeng Road (between the Din Daeng and Asok-Din Daeng intersections)
•     Phahon Yothin Road (at the five-way Lat Phrao intersection, Kasetsart University, Bang Bua, Lak Si and Saphan Mai as well as between Saphan Khwai and Ari)
•     Suwinthawong Road (from Min Buri to Wat Saen Suk)
•     Srinagarindra Road (from Bang Kapi to Hua Mak, Pattanakan, On Nut, Seacon Square and Bang Na)
•     Ratchadaphisek Road (from Rama IX to Huai Khwang, the Lat Phrao intersection and Ratchayothin)
•     Ngam Wong Wan Road (from The Mall Ngam Wong Wan to Kaset intersection)
•     Lat Krabang Road (from Suvarnabhumi airport to Ramkhamhaeng, Bang Kapi and Saphan Sung)
•     Pattanakan Road (along the entire route)
•     Lat Phrao Road (from the Ratchada-Lat Phrao intersection to Wang Thonglang and Bang Kapi)
•     On Nut Road (from Sukhumvit 77 to On Nut 17, the Srinagarindra intersection and Prawet)
•     Phetchaburi Road (from Makkasan to Asok, Thong Lor and Ekkamai)
•     Chaeng Watthana Road (from Lak Si to the Chaeng Watthana expressway)
•     Sukhumvit Road (from Bang Na to Udom Suk)
•     Ram Intra Road (from Bang Khen to the 2nd kilometre marker)

Alleys near canals were also flooded, but there were no flooding problems in western Bangkok, on the other side of the Chao Phraya River, the governor added.