BANGKOK, Sept 27 — Thailand has declared September 28 and 29 as special public holidays in Bangkok and three neighbouring provinces as authorities step up flood response efforts following days of heavy rain that that inundated parts of the capital.

Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said the holidays would apply to Bangkok, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani and Samut Prakan to ease the impact of the floods and facilitate public travel.

“The special holidays were approved at a special Cabinet meeting today to help ease the impact of the floods and facilitate public travel,” he told reporters after the meeting at Government House today.

Anutin said further rain was forecast in the Central and Eastern regions, while Bangkok was expected to receive light to moderate rain.

He instructed provincial governors to closely monitor affected areas and ensure personnel, machinery and vehicles were deployed promptly where needed.

The government was also preparing temporary shelters, food, relief supplies and medical facilities for flood-affected residents, he said.

Anutin also instructed governors to promptly declare disaster-affected areas where necessary and seek additional emergency funds through the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) if conditions worsened.

In Bangkok, rainfall has eased since Saturday night, but many areas remain inundated, with several major roads inaccessible, particularly in the eastern and northern parts of the capital towards Don Mueang Airport and along Phetchaburi Road in the city centre.

Several vehicles were also stranded on flooded roads. — Bernama