At least 23 people have died in flooding across Thailand since Sept. 16, including four in Bangkok, where torrential rain inundated parts of the capital and affected about 700,000 people, authorities said on Tuesday.

Flooding was reported in 29 provinces and Bangkok, with more than 2.6 million people affected nationwide, according to the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM). More than 940,000 households have been affected, while water levels were still rising in 14 provinces.

In Bangkok, floodwaters were beginning to recede as rainfall eased, although some neighborhoods and major roads remained submerged. Authorities have opened more than 230 temporary shelters, with thousands of residents still seeking refuge.

Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt said the city expected about 90% of its main roads to be dry and open to normal traffic within two days, although the timeline remained dependent on water levels and further rainfall.

The capital received about 320 millimeters of rain over two to three days, nearly equivalent to its typical rainfall for the entire month of September. The downpours overwhelmed drainage systems in the low-lying city and forced authorities to deploy pumps and emergency crews across affected areas.

The government has warned communities along the Chao Phraya River to prepare for further rises. Releases from the Chao Phraya Dam are expected to reach between 1,500 and 2,000 cubic meters per second over the coming days, potentially raising downstream water levels by 0.7 to 1.7 meters.

The flooding has also disrupted air travel. Thai Airways said about 5,000 pieces of baggage were stranded at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport following weather-related disruptions and said it expected to clear the backlog within 72 hours.

The government has approved about 4.1 billion baht ($122 million) in emergency assistance for flood victims as authorities assess the economic damage. Reuters reported that losses from the flooding have been estimated at more than $320 million, with businesses in Bangkok and eastern Thailand among those hardest hit.

September is traditionally the peak of Thailand's rainy season, but the intensity of the latest rainfall has highlighted Bangkok's vulnerability as a low-lying city built on former marshland and crisscrossed by canals.

Scientists say climate change is increasing the likelihood and intensity of extreme rainfall events as global temperatures rise, adding pressure on cities such as Bangkok to strengthen drainage and flood-control infrastructure.

For now, Thai authorities are focusing on draining remaining floodwaters, assisting displaced residents and restoring transport and other essential services as the weather begins to improve. (ILKHA)