[See also: Five flood-hit Bangkok schools closed

More photos from Ratchadaphisek scene

More photos from Moo Ban Chonlathep in Bang Phli district, Samut Prakan ]

The Bangkok Flood Prevention Centre issued a statement, warning motorists to avoid the following eight roads:

1. Ratchadaphisek Road from the Ratchayothin intersection to Lat Phrao Road

2. Ngam Wong Wan Road at Pongphet Market and Soi Shinnakhet

3. Lat Phrao Road from Pradit Manoontham Road to Soi Lat Phrao 97

4. Pattanakarn Road from the Klong Tan intersection to Klong Lao

5. Ramkhamhaeng Road in front of the Bang Kapi electricity office

6. Srinakharin Road near Wat Sri-Iam

7. Srinakharin Road at the Krungthep Kreetha intersection

8. Sukhumvit Road under BTS Baring station.

On some roads waterlogging was as high as 40 centimetres.

The floods prompted Sompong Wiengkaew, director of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration’s Sewerage and Drainage Department, to inspect some roads at 4.40am.

He said many roads were flooded late Wednesday night but the waters had receded by Thursday morning while his department officials were racing against time to drain the water.

The water level subsided on the Ngam Wong Wan-Pong Phet Road and vehicles could use two right lanes while the left lanes on both sides were still flooded.

He said the road in front of the Criminal Court was still inundated.

His department reported at 4.45am that Klong Chao Khun Sing in Wang Thong Lang district had the heaviest rainfall – 156.5 millimetres.