Parts of Bangkok and much of the country's central plain have been submerged in floodwaters for a while now, devastating people's livelihoods. Equally damaging is the political backwash that now threatens to shorten the term of Yingluck Shinawatra's government.
The floods were already at crisis level early last month, but the prime minister was slow to act. The media criticised her for lacking leadership and crisis management skills. This was partly true.
But Yingluck alone is not to blame. The floods have offered her critics an excellent opportunity to challenge her government, and Yingluck received little co-operation from key actors, including the military and Bangkok governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra, who happens to be a member of the opposition Democrat Party.
The social divisions that emerged after the 2006 military coup have continued to roil Thai politics, even now in a time of crisis. All sides of the political divide have tried to undermine their opponents, using the flood crisis to discredit them at the expense of aggravating the situation. This shows that politics has overshadowed public responsibility and a sense of solidarity for national survival.
Some new developments have also surfaced. First, the active role of the military in disaster relief has boosted its image as 'the people's army'. The military's popularity sank to its lowest point following the brutal crackdown on the red-shirt demonstrators in May last year. On top of this, the military often sees itself as an agency that protects the interests of the monarchy, not those of the people.
So, the footage of Thai soldiers visiting the flood areas and offering their help to the victims has softened their negative image among some Thais.