Heavy rains throughout Bangkok after midnight until before dawn today caused floodings on several major roads in and around the capital, and turned the morning traffic into a complete chaos.
Many schools were ordered by their school masters to close down, while most office employees complaining they could not make it to offices on time.
Some motorists have to abandon their cars at homes and took motorcycle taxis to the nearest electric train stations instead.
All subway and skyway train stations were jammed by commuters as it was the only choice that could make them move, rather than trapped unmovable at cars, taxis, buses on the roads where some have turned into canals.
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration’s Flood Prevention Centre reported 30 main roads in both Bangkok and Thonburi sides of the Chao Phraya river are affected by floodings.
Until late today, flood prevention teams are still racing with time to drain floodwater from many major roads, particularly Ratchadapisek, Lat Prao, before another round of rain comes.
The MCOT Soi off Rama 9 were submerged with water of up 50 centimetres, thus making the entire Soi impassable for vehicles except truck.
The Soi lies many offices, particularly MCOT Plc, the Government Housing Bank headoffice.
A section of the Ratchadapisek road in front of the Criminal Court has turned into a small canal.
Traffic police has shut down the flyover to divert traffic to other road instead as many cars were knocked down by floods of up to 30-40 centimetres as they were unaware of the floods ahead.
Long traffic jams were reported on many roads into the inner capital as many inner zones are still under water.
The hardest hit by rain with up to 90 millimetres of rainwater dumped into the area is in Huay Kwang district.
The heavy downpour began lashing Bangkok at about 1 am and ceased around 4 am.
The Meteorological Department today forecast daily rain and thunderstorms for the rest of the week.
Bangkok Governor MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra was on Ratchadapisek road in front of the Criminal Court this morning to direct the draining of water from the road.
Earlier in the morning he posted on his Facebook page advising the public to avoid Ratchadapisek, Navamin, Ngam Wong Wan, Lat Phrao, Phahon Yothin, Phetchakasem and Pracha Suk as authorities were hastily draining water out of these areas
By 10.30 am today traffic jams are still heavy at many inbound roads, particularly Lat Prao.
One motorist reported driving from The Mall Bangkapi to Big C Lat Prao (formerly Imperial World) at 7 am but by 9 am, he still has not get to it, though it is just less than two kilometres.
Many public bus passengers have decided to leave the buses and walk instead as the bus could just snail only less than 50 metres in an hour.
