Bangkok confirms proactive ongoing water drainage in canals throughout the rainy season, accelerating full-capacity water discharge on the east side. It is expected that the situation at "Khlong Chan" will start to ease tonight, while Lat Krabang, Srinagarindra, and Khlong Prawet areas still need more time to recover.
On 30 Sep 2026 GMT+7, Mr. Wisanu Sapsompol, Deputy Governor of Bangkok, disclosed the water situation in Bangkok, stating that the upstream water level remains manageable for the city. Although the Royal Irrigation Department has increased water discharge downstream, Bangkok has flood barriers and riverbank protection systems along the Chao Phraya River in place. The river level is about 2.10 meters, well below the system's capacity of over 3 meters, so the overall situation is not affected. However, residents outside the flood barriers or in areas prone to seepage are urged to closely monitor the situation.
In Bangkok's eastern side, several locations have shown improvement as Khlong Saen Saep can now discharge more water. This has gradually eased flooding in areas draining into Khlong Saen Saep. Ramkhamhaeng Road has nearly fully reopened to traffic, while Lat Phrao still experiences some flooding near Lat Phrao 101 and Bang Kapi. Bangkok authorities continue to intensify drainage efforts there.
“Today, we will first drain water from main roads, then proceed to drain from alleys and communities sequentially. If the Khlong Saen Saep water level decreases as expected, we can increase pumping in the Khlong Chan area and anticipate a clear improvement in the situation tonight,” Deputy Governor Wisanu said.
Regarding Khlong Chan, a low-lying area with drainage system limitations, Bangkok has mobilized pumps to expedite water removal both through pipelines and surface pumping. Pumps are operating along Khlong Saen Saep and at the Lam Phang Phuay pumping station to push water out of the area. Support in pumps and personnel is also provided by the Royal Irrigation Department and related agencies. The estimated volume of water needing urgent drainage in Khlong Chan is about 1.50 meters deep, or over 300,000 cubic meters.
The Lat Krabang–Srinagarindra–Khlong Prawet areas will require more time to drain compared to the Khlong Saen Saep area due to differences in water flow routes and drainage systems. Bangkok is accelerating drainage and coordinating with relevant agencies, especially in border areas with neighboring provinces, to manage water jointly.
Traffic in many areas has started to return to normal, though some spots still require urgent drainage, such as Lat Phrao 101. Bangkok has deployed teams to address flooding points and continues to monitor the situation closely, preparing for rehabilitation efforts once the water recedes.
In response to criticism that Bangkok did not proactively drain canals to prepare for the situation, Deputy Governor Wisanu clarified that the city has been continuously draining canals throughout the rainy season, not only when rain is forecast. Canals are the main mechanism for water retention and drainage in Bangkok, and water levels are controlled to maintain appropriate capacity, thereby increasing water storage space and minimizing impacts on canal-side residents.
“During the rainy season, we don’t wait for rain forecasts because it can rain any day. Bangkok must keep draining canals continuously to maintain storage space and use canals as the city's main drainage routes,” Deputy Governor Wisanu explained.
Regarding pump operations, he confirmed that Bangkok is utilizing all available pumping capacity fully, but pumping depends on both water levels and the volume flowing into pumping stations. This is especially true for the Khlong Prawet and Khlong Phra Khanong areas, where winding waterways delay water arrival at pumping stations. Bangkok has a development project for a permanent water tunnel at Thawara Mahabut to receive water and channel it directly to the Chao Phraya River, reducing the limitations of existing waterways and enhancing drainage efficiency in Khlong Phra Khanong and Khlong Prawet in the future.
Around midday, it was observed that rain fell over the Khlong Chan area but stopped shortly afterward.