Heavy rain batters Bangkok as monsoon season accelerates

Heavy rain battered Bangkok this afternoon (July 9) as the country's monsoon wet season accelerates.

Thailand and other countries in Southeast Asia such as Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines are at the start of their tropical monsoon rainy season, which lasts until October or November. Soaring temperatures reaching 35 degrees Celsius are often followed by powerful tropical storms with thunder, lightning, rain and flash floods.