Photo Essays | Environment
Bangkok’s Flooding Nightmare
Flooding across Thailand has claimed more than 500 lives and forced tens of thousands to evacuate. As Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra warns that flooding in western parts of Bangkok could persist until the New Year, local photographers share images of the impact the rising waters have had.
Police on Yaowarat Road, known as Bangkok’s Chinatown, receive a bottle of water from a local resident.
Credit: Adison Saeaun
Locals paddle around what is usually a busy intersection near Kasetsart University.
Credit: Asit Maneesarn
Flooding in northwest Bangkok has hit numerous homes in Thaweewatthana district, Phutthamonthon, with waters 1.5 meters hitting many parts of the area.
Credit: Jutatip Sermpakdeekul
The elevated Borommaratchachonnani Road, north of Bangkok, was turned into a temporary car park as residents tried to keep their vehicles away from the flooding.
Credit: Kraivut Rasameewesarach
Flooding spreads to Phetkasem Road in the western part of Bangkok on the morning of November 2, 2011. Residents are attempting to board a bus.
Credit: Wutipong Ieamsiriwat
Water surrounding Bangkok slowly forced its way into the heart of the city. This picture was taken in the first hour of flooding at Siam Commercial Bank Park Plaza on Ratchadaphisek Road in Chatuchak district, Bangkok.
Credit: Pattama Chandavimol
This man says he has been fishing in front of Siam Commercial Bank’s headquarters every day since the area was flooded.
Credit: Asit Maneesarn
NASA Earth Observatory shows images from space of the Don Muang Airport, located north of downtown Bangkok, on October 29, 2011. The white dots are airplanes. The watery rectangle is the submerged runway complex
Credit: NASA Earth Observatory image created by Jesse Allen and Robert Simmon, using EO-1 ALI data provided courtesy of the NASA EO-1 team. Caption by Holli Riebeek.
The usually busy Vibhavadi Rangsit Road is deserted.
Credit: Asit Maneesarn
Walking through flood waters on Phetkasem Road, Bangkok.
Credit: Wutipong Ieamsiriwat
An old Thai saying goes: “Nai Nam Mee Pla Nai Na Mee Khao” or “Wherever there is water, you can always find fish. Wherever there is a paddy field, you can always find plenty of rice.” This photo was taken in front of Kasetsart University, the oldest and largest agricultural university in Thailand.
Credit: Asit Maneesarn
The sign reads: “Everyone fight! Free Drinking Water from the heart.” The sign was posted by a fruit seller on Phetkasem Road, west of Bangkok. Drinking water is becoming scarce after flooding spread to most areas of western Bangkok.
Credit: Wutipong Ieamsiriwat
Don Muang Airport was at one point effectively closed due to flooding.
Credit: Adison Saeaun
A soldier standing in the middle of a road warning drivers not to go any further.
Credit: Asit Maneesarn
A Thai police officer stands by the front gate of Bangkok’s “Chinatown”
Credit: Adison Saeaun
Private boats have been operating to ferry those in affected areas of Bangkok.
Credit: Wutipong Ieamsiriwat
The man with the megaphone is Chuwit Kamolvisit, a popular but controversial politician who was once the country’s biggest massage parlor owner. Here he tries to assist flood victims.
Credit: Asit Maneesarn
Bangkok residents wade through flood waters.
Credit: Wutipong Ieamsiriwat
Onnut residents have been stocked up on instant foods in preparation flooding. The sign reads: “limit of six packs per family.”
Credit: Yinglak Fungtaweesrivilai
A passing truck generates a wave of water.
Credit: Asit Maneesarn
A man travels through floodwaters in Bangkok with his son.
Credit: Adison Saeaun
Two submerged cars left behind a parking lot at Don Muang Airport.
Credit: Adison Saeaun
Military vehicles have been a constant sight, with Army trucks taxiing people for essential travel.
Credit: Military vehicles have been a constant sight, with Army trucks taxiing people for essential travel.
Many planes were left behind at Don Muang Airport.
Credit: Adison Saeaun
Vibhavadi Rangsit Road during the flooding.
Credit: Asit Maneesarn
A family walking on what is usually a busy expressway.
Credit: Adison Saeaun
A garbage collector carries plastic bottles and soda cans on the back of his bicycle.
Credit: Asit Maneesarn
Phaholyothin Road, in front of Central Plaza Lat Phrao, under half a meter of water.
Credit: Adison Saeaun
People attempt to leave flooded areas. This photo was taking in a bus crossing the Ratchayothin Bridge near the northern border area of Bangkok.
Credit: Asit Maneesarn
Volunteers with the Thai Red Cross Society distribute supplies.
Credit: Asit Maneesarn
Workers at Central Plaza Pinklao, north of Bangkok, pump water into a nearby canal.
Credit: Kraivut Rasameewesarach
Military personnel organize traffic and transportation in flooded areas.
Credit: Asit Maneesarn
A combination of visible and infrared light images from NASA’s Terra satellite. Bangkok is located at the lower middle part of the images. The city is surrounded by water in the north and east.
Credit: NASA images courtesy MODIS Rapid Response Team, Goddard Space Flight Center. Caption by Michon Scott.
Ratchada Road is one of the main streets in inner Bangkok.
Credit: Asit Maneesarn