Many major retail chains have closed outlets in the Thai capital of Bangkok as flooding there intensifies.
Prolonged monsoonal rains in the country have lead to some of the worst flooding in fifty years, the Bangkok Post has reported.
While rainfall was heaviest in the north of the country, the huge volume of water that fell in the region has made its way south and threatens to inundate large parts of Bangkok.
The Bangkok Post has reported flooding in the north of the city has caused many major retail chains to close outlets in affected areas.
Central Food Retail closed its Tops Daily format stores at Rattanakosin 200 Years Road and Rangsit Market, along with its Tops Market at Future Park in Rangsit.
Meanwhile, Big C has closed its hypermarket in Nava Nakorn and, according to the Bangkok Post, will use it as a donation centre to provide aid to residents and workers there.
Tesco Lotus has reportedly closed around 25 Tesco Lotus Express outlets and two Talad Lotus branches. The company has also closed distribution centres in the provinces of Pathum Thani, Ayutthaya and Nonthaburi, and is setting up makeshift distribution centres in nearby regions not affected by the floods.
The operator of the 7-Eleven banner, CP All Plc, has reported around 150 outlets had been closed as of Tuesday (18 October), as well as its distribution centre in Bang Bua Thong.
Many of the major retailers are seeking assistance from the government, according to the newspaper, with both Central Food Retail and CP All requesting 5,000m2 of storage space for their products.
Retailers including Tesco, Big C and Siam Makro have also asked the government to make available around 120 trucks for use in distribution during the floods.
