Bangkok floods put government response under scrutiny as poll ratings fall
Bangkok’s severe floods have intensified scrutiny of the government’s disaster response, while NIDA Poll shows support for Anutin and Bhumjaithai falling before the crisis.
Severe flooding across Bangkok has intensified scrutiny of Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul’s government, particularly over the timing of public warnings and its ability to prepare for increasingly extreme rainfall.
Large parts of Lat Krabang and Bang Kapi, including Rom Klao Housing Estate and Khlong Chan flats, were among the areas badly affected after prolonged heavy rain from September 24 onwards. Floodwater submerged roads, homes and vehicles, leaving some communities difficult to reach. Reuters reported that thousands of people sought shelter as flooding affected Bangkok and dozens of provinces nationwide.
A political commentary published by Krungthep Turakij argues that the latest flooding has renewed questions about whether lessons from the severe Hat Yai floods in late 2025 were translated into more effective disaster preparedness under Anutin’s subsequent administration.
Warning system becomes focus of criticism
One of the central criticisms concerns the timing of Cell Broadcast warnings.
Marine and environmental academic Thon Thamrongnawasawat said a warning advising residents to move belongings to higher ground was sent at about 10am, even though flooding had already affected areas including Ekkamai from around 1am–2am. He argued that emergency systems should increasingly prepare for worst-case scenarios rather than rely too heavily on historical patterns.
Delayed warnings can leave residents with insufficient time to protect vehicles, homes and other property.
The floods also carried direct safety risks. A 58-year-old woman died after an apparent electric shock in floodwater at the Khlong Chan housing flats in Bang Kapi on September 26, according to police reports.
Government agencies, meanwhile, have deployed military personnel, high-clearance vehicles and emergency equipment in Bangkok and other affected provinces, while the Transport Ministry established a 24-hour flood response centre to coordinate road, rail, water and air transport assistance.
Comparisons with 2011 remain contested
For some Bangkok residents facing deep localised flooding and extensive property damage, the impact may feel more severe than during the major 2011 floods.
That comparison does not mean the two disasters are equivalent in scale. The Agriculture Ministry has separately said the current national flood situation is not expected to reach the overall severity of 2011, while authorities have sought to slow upstream releases to limit additional pressure on Bangkok and the Central region.
Unlike the 2011 disaster, when large volumes of upstream water moved through the Central Plains, much of Bangkok’s September 2026 flooding was driven by intense local rainfall that overwhelmed drainage systems. Bangkok declared all 50 districts disaster-affected areas after the prolonged rain.
Poll ratings were already falling before Bangkok floods
The political pressure comes as a new NIDA Poll shows declining support for both Anutin and his Bhumjaithai Party.
Importantly, the latest survey was conducted from September 18–23, before the heaviest Bangkok flooding began on September 24. It therefore does not measure public reaction to the flood response. The nationwide poll surveyed 2,500 people aged 18 and over.
Support for Anutin as preferred prime minister has fallen across three quarterly surveys:
- First quarter: 29.40%
- Second quarter: 21.68%
- Third quarter: 13.76%
That represents a decline of 15.64 percentage points from the first to the third quarter.
Bhumjaithai’s support followed a similar pattern:
- First quarter: 26.60%
- Second quarter: 17.00%
- Third quarter: 12.08%
The party’s figure therefore fell 14.52 percentage points over the same period.
The third-quarter poll placed Anutin at 13.76% when respondents were asked whom they would support as prime minister, while Bhumjaithai received 12.08% when respondents were asked which party they currently supported.
Flood response could become a further political test
Because the NIDA survey predates the latest flooding, it cannot show whether the disaster has further affected public support for the prime minister or Bhumjaithai.
Disaster management could become an additional test of the government’s public standing, particularly if voters judge that warnings, prevention and relief measures did not meet expectations.
Anutin’s first government in 2025 was formed with parliamentary backing from the opposition People’s Party under an agreement that included constitutional amendments and an early election. The arrangement later broke down, with the People’s Party accusing Anutin of failing to honour the pact, an allegation he denied. Bhumjaithai subsequently won the February 2026 general election and formed a majority coalition government.
The latest floods therefore arrive at a politically sensitive moment. The immediate test for the administration is operational — draining flooded communities, providing relief and improving warning systems — while any effect on political support will only become clearer in surveys conducted after the disaster.
Source: Krungthep Turakij
