Bangkok’s floods have killed around 40 people, officials said, as all 50 of the capital’s districts were declared disaster zones. About 300 millimetres of rain fell in two days.

Streets turned into stagnant lakes, with residents wading through waist-deep water. Deaths were caused by drowning and electrocution, according to reports. More than 230 shelters have been opened, housing thousands of displaced people.

The Khlong Chan flats became a symbol of the crisis, with ground floors submerged. It is the city’s worst flooding in 15 years. Suvarnabhumi airport operations were disrupted.

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has set up a war room to coordinate the response. More rain is forecast in the coming days, raising fears the crisis could worsen.

Experts say the concrete-covered city cannot drain extreme rainfall. The floods are being seen as a warning about climate resilience in Southeast Asian capitals.