(AP)
–
The nationwide death toll from Thailand's worst floods in half a century climbed past 500 today, as the polluted black water continued its march into Bangkok and authorities ordered a spate of new evacuations in the sprawling capital. Today, Bangkok Gov. Sukhumbhand Paribatra ordered another wave of evacuations in several neighborhoods in the west and east. In all, evacuations have been ordered in nine of the capital's 50 districts. Seven others are partially inundated and residents in parts of those have also been told to leave.
Floodwaters also poured over a road running underneath the city's Mo Chit Skytrain station, the northernmost stop on Bangkok's elevated subway system. Mo Chit is located just a few miles north of the city's central business district, which has remained dry so far. Relentless rainfall has pummeled vast swaths of Thailand since late July, swamping the country and killing 506 people, according to the latest government statistics. Most of those killed have drowned, while a handful of people have died from flood-related electrocutions. Yesterday, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra told a radio audience that a plan to be put before the Cabinet on Tuesday would allocate $3.3 billion for post-flood reconstruction. Yingluck's government has come under fire for failing to predict the threat to the capital. Click through the gallery for more scenes from Thailand's flooding.
