The six latest districts to be evacuated are all located in the northern and northeastern parts of Bangkok. 13 districts bordering the Chao Phraya River, which runs through Bangkok, have also been put on high alert.

The city is under threat from runoff from swollen rivers caused by unusually heavy monsoon rains. The release of excess capacity from giant dam reservoirs is also a challenge. On Sunday, the Chao Phraya peaked at 2.53 meters above sea level, coinciding with the Gulf's high tides.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said earlier that the situation was critical and announced that extra government shelters were being set up and there would be further evacuation measures. "It seems like we're fighting against the forces of nature; a massive amount of floodwater is causing damage to several of our dikes," she said at a press conference.

Crucial days ahead

The central government has set up a flood crisis center at Don Muang Airport, a domestic airport which was closed to air traffic as of Tuesday. Employees at the center have told residents in flood-prone areas to leave, warning that food deliveries would become more difficult.

Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra said on Thursday that the situation would reach a critical point and pointed out that the 13 districts along the Chao Phraya River were most at risk. The river already reached a record high on Tuesday. The floodwalls along the river are two and a half meters high but experts expect the water to rise higher.

Supermarkets running low

Government offices, schools and some businesses have shut down and supermarkets are running low on necessities, such as bottled water and eggs, as people stock up.

But in Bang Phlad district, near the city center, Mantanee Chewaprapan, who was up to her ankles in water, was able to fill up a whole caddy. "I have bought necessary things such as noodles and milk. I am now bringing them to the evacuation center at the Satree Burawanit school. They should have been picked up here but nothing has happened yet."

Nearby, Vichit Pookmaitree's shop was already flooded. "Everything is damaged here," he said. "I was prepared for the floods but it's much worse than expected. Much worse than the last one in 1995."

Author: Udo Schmidt / act / mg
Editor: Sarah Berning