Floods death toll tops 500

THE death toll from Thailand’s worst floods in half a century climbed past 500 yesterday, as advancing pools of polluted black water threatened Bangkok’s subway system and new evacuations were ordered in the sprawling capital.

The latest district added to the government’s evacuation list was Chatuchak, home to major public park and an outdoor shopping zone that is a major tourist attraction.

So far, Bangkok governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra has ordered evacuations in 11 of Bangkok’s 50 districts, and partial evacuations apply in seven more.