Floods kill at least 16 in Thailand and Myanmar, nearly 2.5 million affected
Flooding in Thailand has killed eight people since September 16, 2026 and left 1.7 million people affected across 27 provinces outside Bangkok as of September 28. Bangkok remained flooded for a fourth consecutive day. Meanwhile, a local volunteer rescue group in southern Myanmar reported recovering eight bodies and searching for 20–30 missing people in Launglon Township.
Rescue operations in Bangkok, Thailand on September 27, 2026. Credit: Sawasdee Thailand
The deaths in Thailand occurred in three eastern provinces, with no flood-related deaths reported in Bangkok. More than 500 000 households across the 27 provinces remained affected on September 28.
Bangkok remained flooded for a fourth consecutive day, although rainfall had begun to ease. A Thai government update said about 329 000 households, representing roughly 700 000 people, had been affected in the capital.
Overnight rainfall reached about 62 mm (2.4 inches) in Nong Chok, 55 mm (2.2 inches) in Lat Krabang and 52 mm (2 inches) in Min Buri.
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration had transferred about 1 500 bedridden patients to city hospitals. Schools were closed, and authorities urged residents to work from home where possible.
More than 80 000 people were unable to leave their homes because of flooding, according to Thailand’s Interior Ministry.
Pumping stations had operated at full capacity for several days. Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt said some areas could take up to a week to drain fully.
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) said a low-pressure cell had moved over the Gulf of Martaban while a rather strong southwest monsoon prevailed over the Andaman Sea, southern Thailand and the Gulf of Thailand.
Advisory No. 18, issued at 05:00 LT on September 28 (22:00 UTC on September 27), forecast heavy rain and isolated very heavy rain across parts of northern, central and eastern Thailand.
TMD warned that further rain could trigger flash floods, waterway overflows and landslides during the following 24 hours, particularly near foothills, waterways and low-lying areas.
Advisory No. 18 was TMD’s final special advisory for the episode, but the designation did not mean the flood threat had ended. Routine forecasts continued to warn of isolated heavy rain and associated flash-flood and landslide risks during September 28.
In southern Myanmar, Hein Htet of the local volunteer People’s Administration Team reported that rescuers had recovered eight bodies in Launglon Township and that 20–30 people were reported missing.
He said three of those recovered were teenagers who had gathered at a monastery before a landslide struck their village and buried 18 buildings. The figures had not been independently confirmed by a national authority.
Myanmar’s continuing conflict has restricted access to affected areas and complicated independent assessment and relief operations.
References:
1 Heavy to Very Heavy Rain in Thailand No. 18 (234/2026) – TMD – September 28, 2026
2 Bangkok Flood Update 28 Sept: Rain Easing, 700K Affected – Government Public Relations Department of Thailand – September 28, 2026
3 Tolls mount in Thailand, Myanmar floods – France 24 – September 28, 2026
Rishav Kothari is Editor-in-Chief of The Watchers, where he runs the newsroom and covers earthquakes, volcanoes, severe weather and space weather.
