Elsewhere in Bangkok, troops worked to fortify two key industrial zones, hoping to contain the economic damage wreaked by the disaster. According to the MCOT news site, the Thai chamber of commerce estimates that the floods have already cost the economy 400bn baht (£8bn). That would rise by another 120bn baht a month if business areas were flooded.
The governor of the central bank has said growth in south-east Asia's second largest economy could fall to 3% or less this year, rather than the 4.1% previously forecast. The finance minister has said it could even drop below 2%.
Seven industrial estates in Pathum Thani, Nonthaburi and Ayutthaya provinces have already halted production, with Toyota, Honda, Canon and Nikon among the companies affected. At least 600,000 people are unemployed due to the flooding. The labour ministry said that each would receive 2,000 baht.