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Worst ever flooding in Thailand threatens capital Bangkok Rising floodwaters which have killed or injured hundreds of people and destroyed thousands of homes across Thailand are now threatening the capital Bangkok.

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Floods have submerged the ancient capital of Ayutthaya, forcing an emergency evacuation of hospitals in the region - in pictures

Photograph by Sukree Sukplang, Reuters Buddhist monks collect their belongings at a flooded temple in the ancient city of Ayutthaya, Thailand, on October 7. The 14th-century Siamese capital, listed as a UN World Heritage site, has been flooded for more than a week, according to the UN, which is sending a mission to Ayutthaya to survey the damage.

Humanitarian disaster unfolding as Thailand's worst flooding in living memory intensifies Floods and mudslides triggered by heavy monsoon rains since late July have submerged large sections of Thailand, Philippines, Cambodia, Vietnam and southern China killing or injuring thousands and leaving tens of millions of people affected.

Inaccurate information, poor management and nature have all combined to unleash one of Thailand's worst floods in decades. When the newly elected government of prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra took office in early August, it wasted no time in rolling out populist policies catered to its up-country supporters, putting in motion the legacy of Yingluck's brother, former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was deposed in a military coup five years ago and later convicted and exiled for corruption.

Worst yet to come as billions of cubic metres of floodwater pour towards capital from saturated north For the second time in a year Bangkok is threatened by flooding and each time it seems to get worse.