The Thai government reported that floods affected 29 out of the country's 77 provinces, noting that 8 people died in Samut Prakan, located between Bangkok and the sea, and 6 in Sa Kaeo in the east of the country, in addition to victims in Chanthaburi, southeast of the capital, and Ayutthaya and Saraburi to its north.
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The floods inundated large areas of Bangkok, forcing some 7,000 people to seek refuge in more than 230 shelters, as schools remained closed for the second consecutive day. Authorities declared a state of emergency in the capital on Saturday as the damage widened and nearly 700,000 people were affected by the rising water levels.
The floods had repercussions on vital economic sectors, with transportation and car production disrupted and flights cancelled, while authorities intensified relief efforts, draining water from affected neighborhoods and delivering supplies to trapped residents.
Bloomberg reported that Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul's government plans to approve an aid package worth 2 billion baht, equivalent to about $59.5 million, for flood victims.
In the aviation sector, Thai Airways International cancelled 22 domestic and international flights scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday, including flights to Singapore, India and Europe, due to a shortage of staff and disruption to transportation to Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok.
The University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce estimated the economic losses in Bangkok at about 7 billion baht (US$208.45 million), while it predicted that losses nationwide would reach about 12.3 billion baht (US$366.28 million).
At Pisanwanich of the Economics Department at Thailand’s Rangsit University told Reuters that he expects the economic losses from the floods to exceed 11 billion baht, or about $327 million, nationwide, with the possibility of them rising if the situation does not improve.
Although Thailand usually experiences peak rainfall during September, several Bangkok residents said the current floods appear to be more severe than those they have seen in previous years.
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