The prime minister also waded into debate over the city's readiness to cope with sudden rains. Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said Bangkok's entire drainage system needs a major overhaul, after the rains caused traffic chaos in the capital's 36 areas. Speaking after the regular Tuesday cabinet meeting, Gen Prayut said authorities have prepared flood response measures and equipment, such as water pumps, to help residents in the city's flood-risk areas.
There is little mystery as to why Bangkok experienced heavy flooding this morning. According to Bangkok Governor MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra, rainfall exceeded 200mm in the hardest-hit areas with most part of the city receiving more than 100mm. The governor said the city coped well in the early evening as canal levels were low, but drainage became extremely difficult as the heavy rain set in. As of noon, most roads were now passable. Thai PBS showed traffic flowing well past the Criminal Court, but one lane was still flooded.
In fairness, we have had a lot of rain recently. The artificial lake (from a failed construction project) next to our condo, has now completely filled, up about what appears to at least 70cm in the last few days. But the big question in the social media this morning is what was the city's flood prevention team doing during the dry season?