Anger was growing in Bangkok at what critics described as government inaction over severe flooding even as authorities warned of more heavy rain and the death toll across Thailand jumped to 31.
The interior ministry said on Monday the toll from the floods since 16 September had risen to 31, up from 23 reported last Tuesday. The deaths were reported across eight provinces, including four in Bangkok, and nearly 3.5 million people remained affected nationwide, the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation said.
The meteorological department warned of thunderstorms, strong winds and heavy rain across much of upper Thailand from Monday to Wednesday, raising the risk of flash floods in low-lying areas, with very heavy to heavy rain also forecast in some parts of central, eastern and southern regions.
Bangkok received 320mm of rain within three days, nearly as much as the capital usually gets in the whole of September, and suffered its worst floods in 15 years. The deluge filled drains and canals to capacity and affected roughly a tenth of the city, mostly in the east and northeast.
Many residents were still stranded in their homes as floodwaters were slow to drain from the worst-hit eastern parts of the city, and blocks of flats were left without running water, power, or fresh food.
Siraprapha Sangseeluem, 24, who remained stuck in her block of flats five days after the flooding began, told South China Morning Post the government was “totally useless”.
Her car, bought less than a month ago, was submerged after she waited until dawn to move it to a nearby shopping centre.
"I woke up at 5am but it was too late," she said. "I hadn't even started making the payments and it's gone."
Prime minister Anutin Charnvirakul was met with abuse when he arrived on Sunday to distribute food and water at the flats, having received a similar reception at several places he visited last week.
As his boat entered the residential area, a man approached and shouted: “Why did you come?”, according to The Vibes.
His Bhumjaithai Party did not win any of Bangkok's constituency seats in February's general election. His campaign pledge to make the country "so rich, you won't know what to do with your money" was turned against him, with angry crowds chanting "I feel so rich" sarcastically as he arrived.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Mr Anutin acknowledged the backlash. "I know we weren't good enough, or prepared well enough," he said. "The fact that people scolded me, criticised me, rest assured that I've heard you and I'm not ignoring you."
Mr Anutin, who is also the interior minister, cut short a diplomatic visit to the UK to oversee the flood response as opposition lawmakers criticised everything from the slow warnings to the sluggish relief.
Bangkok governor Chadchart Sittipunt apologised for delayed warnings and a slow start to the relief effort.
Last week, the Thai cabinet approved a 160 billion baht (£3.5bn) plan to divert floodwaters away from the capital.
It includes building a new canal from Chai Nat province to relieve pressure on the Chao Phraya river, which carries run-off from northern and central Thailand through Bangkok. The project is set to take eight years to complete.
The floods are the worst since 2011, when parts of Bangkok stayed under up to 2m of water for weeks, killing dozens of people. The deluge comes as this year's "super" El Nino weather pattern is forecast to intensify into 2027.
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