“Just Warn Us in Time”: Bang Kapi Resident’s Message to Thai Government
“Just Warn Us in Time”: Bang Kapi Resident’s Message to Thai Government
BANGKOK, Sept. 28, 2026 — As severe flooding entered its second day in Bangkok’s Bang Kapi district, residents facing rising and increasingly foul-smelling floodwater said they had yet to receive assistance and were forced to wade through flooded streets to buy food and other essentials.
But when a resident was asked what he wanted from the Thai government, his response was strikingly simple:
“Just give us timely warnings.”
The comment, shared by journalist Pravit Rojanaphruk of Khaosod English after visiting the flooded area on Monday evening, reflected residents’ concerns as communities continued to struggle with deep floodwater.
Residents in Bang Kapi told Rojanaphruk that they had received no assistance at the time and had to leave their homes themselves to obtain dry food and other necessities. He also reported that the floodwater had begun to develop an unpleasant smell.
Bang Kapi has been among the areas hardest hit by the flooding that swept across Bangkok after torrential rain over the weekend. Bangkok authorities said the capital received nearly 300 millimetres of rain over 48 hours, overwhelming major canals and drainage systems.
As of Sept. 28, Bangkok authorities said around 700,000 people had been affected by flooding, with eight districts still experiencing significant flooding, including Bang Kapi. Water levels in the Saen Saep and Lat Phrao canals remained critically high.
The resident’s appeal for earlier warnings comes as Thai authorities have themselves emphasized the importance of timely information. The government said agencies had been instructed to provide accurate, timely and accessible warnings about flooding risks so residents could prepare and respond.
Thailand’s Meteorological Department had issued warnings of heavy to very heavy rain across Bangkok and surrounding areas from Sept. 24 onward, warning that accumulated rainfall could cause flooding and overflows, particularly in low-lying areas and near waterways.
The contrast between those official warnings and the experience described by residents is likely to remain part of the public discussion as Bangkok works to drain floodwaters and assist affected communities.
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration said relief operations were continuing, including the evacuation of vulnerable residents and the distribution of drinking water and food. Authorities have also been requesting additional relief supplies, boats and high-clearance vehicles for affected communities.
For residents still surrounded by floodwater, however, the message from one Bang Kapi man was straightforward: warn people early enough to give them time to prepare.
