Heavy downpours recently lashing the Thai capital of Bangkok have flooded parts of the city, leaving hundreds of South Korean passengers stranded at Suvarnabhumi International Airport for more than 10 hours.

According to the Thai government on the 28th (local time), more than 330 mm of torrential rain has battered the Bangkok area since the 24th, inundating various parts of the city.

In some residential areas, floodwaters rose up to the chest height of adults, and 4,900 displaced residents took shelter in some 200 evacuation centers set up at schools and temples.

Bangkok authorities estimated that 52,000 households have been affected by the floods caused by the heavy rain.

Flight departures faced consecutive delays starting yesterday as some airline crew members failed to arrive at work on time due to the floods.

Hundreds of South Koreans attempting to board a Thai Airways flight were stranded at Suvarnabhumi Airport for over 10 hours starting last night.

A South Korean surnamed Kim (37) said, "I was planning to return to Korea with eight family members on a Thai Airways flight scheduled for 11:10 PM last night," adding, "The departure time was first changed to 1:40 AM today, and then kept shifting to 3:00 AM, 4:00 AM, and 6:10 AM."


Kim added, "There was not a single airline staff member at the gate, and there was no guidance whatsoever regarding the flight delays," and "When I could not take it anymore and visited the Thai Airways lounge directly to inquire, they told me that staff could not make it to work because of the heavy rain."

Kim stated, "It was raining heavily in Bangkok yesterday as well, so I arrived at the airport early around 6:00 PM," and complained, "I waited blindly for over 14 hours without receiving any official notices."

The flight Kim was scheduled to board departed for South Korea at around 10:40 AM today, which was 11 hours and 30 minutes later than the originally scheduled time.

Another Thai Airways flight that was scheduled to depart Suvarnabhumi Airport for South Korea at 11:35 PM yesterday also faced delayed operations.

The Thai government stated that floods across the country since the 16th have left 8 people dead and declared disaster zones in areas including Bangkok, Nonthaburi Province, and Samut Prakan Province.

Over the weekend, panic buying of daily necessities took place across Bangkok, leaving store shelves empty, prompting the Thai Prime Minister's Office to urge restraint.

The Thai government also ordered a special leave for public servants in Bangkok and three neighboring provinces for two days starting today through the 29th.

The Thai government explained, "This is a measure to ease traffic congestion (caused by floods)," adding, "Essential tasks during this period can be handled appropriately at the discretion of department heads."

According to local reports by Pattaya Mail, a body presumed to be a South Korean man who went missing after being swept away by floods in the Nong Prue area near Pattaya in Chonburi Province, central Thailand, on the 24th was found at around 6:00 PM yesterday, three days later.

When first discovered by a local fisherman, the body was in a severely decomposed state, and his attire was reportedly similar to what the South Korean was wearing at the time of disappearance.

Thai authorities plan to conduct an autopsy to further confirm the exact identity and cause of death.

An official from the South Korean Embassy in Thailand said, "A body presumed to be the missing South Korean has been found, but the exact identity has not yet been confirmed," and "We are continuously sharing the situation with the local police chief."

In the southern region of Myanmar, a neighboring country of Thailand, heavy rain starting from the 25th triggered floods and landslides, leaving at least 7 people dead and 30 missing.

(Photo provided by a reader, Yonhap News)