Suburbs sacrificed to save Bangkok

Despite mounting fears, government efforts to save central Bangkok from the nation’s worst flooding in over a decade have largely succeeded.

But only a few kilometres further out of the Thai capital, floodwaters remain. With increasing parts of the north and west of Bangkok under water, the government is reluctant to open barriers that would allow the water to drain away from the outer neighbourhoods.

The government fears opening the barriers would flood central Bangkok. Now residents in the suburbs worry they are being put in growing risk for the wealthier parts of the city.

Al Jazeera’s Florence Looi reports.