Monsoon downpours hit Thailand, causing deaths in landslides and flash floods; Bangkok also flooded

A pressure trough associated with the monsoon is stalled from northern Thailand to areas around the central part of the country. A developed tropical depression moving from the east toward central Thailand coincided with a moist southwesterly monsoon flow, making the atmosphere extremely unstable.

These meteorological conditions favored the rapid development of rain clouds. Active cumulonimbus clouds successively passed mainly over central and eastern Thailand, bringing what appears to have been record-breaking heavy rain.

Around 200 mm of rain observed in 24 hours

In the 24 hours through the morning of Saturday the 26th local time, around 100–200 mm of rain was observed in many areas, including 201.0 mm at Bang Na in Bangkok. The heavy rain caused a religious training facility in eastern Thailand's Chanthaburi Province to be caught in a landslide, killing one monk. In central Saraburi Province, an 18-year-old man died in a flash flood.

In addition, part of the State Railway of Thailand's Eastern Line, between Sa Kaeo and Watthana Nakhon, was suspended because the tracks were flooded. In Bangkok, major roads such as Lat Phrao Road have also flooded, significantly affecting residents' daily lives.

Heavy rain to continue through Sunday the 27th; remain alert for landslides and flooding

The pressure pattern bringing the heavy rain is expected to persist, and very heavy rain is forecast to continue through Sunday the 27th local time across a wide area, including the north, northeast, central Thailand—including the Bangkok metropolitan area—east and south.

In many areas, the ground has already been weakened by the rain and river levels have risen. Residents should remain alert for further landslides, flash floods and inundation in low-lying areas.

The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) has issued a heavy rain warning and urged caution regarding flooding and landslides. It has also asked residents living in low-lying areas and along rivers to pay close attention to the latest weather information.