Thousands of Bangkok residents spent Sunday in temporary shelters after days of heavy rain flooded homes, roads and neighbourhoods across the Thai capital, leaving nearly 4,900 people evacuated.

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) said around 52,000 households had been affected, prompting a disaster declaration across the capital. More than 330 millimeters of rain was recorded in some areas between Thursday and Sunday, according to Thailand’s weather agency.

Several residents said the flooding appeared worse than usual for September, traditionally the peak of Thailand’s rainy season. “Our house was underwater for about 30 hours,” office worker Kosin Nilset, 44, told AFP, saying water levels were higher than during the 2011 floods in his area.

Floodwaters remained high in parts of eastern Bangkok, with pedestrians wading through knee-deep water and carrying belongings in plastic containers. Authorities were working to accelerate drainage, while more rain was forecast before conditions improve from Monday.

Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt urged residents to avoid unnecessary travel. Hundreds of schools are also expected to remain closed on Monday, while some shops reported shortages of essential goods as residents stocked up on supplies.

For many residents, the priority was simply saving what they could. Thidarat Silsuwan, 56, who lives beside the Premprachakorn canal, said she had been sleeping on a table for two days after floodwater entered her home.

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