Bangkok braces for new round of floods at the end of October

BANGKOK, 16 October 2011 (NNT) – Inner Bangkok is certain to be safe from the big flood expected this weekend and next.

Royal Irrigation Department Director-General Chalit Damrongsak said the much-talked-about large volume of floodwater has passed Bangkok and drifted to the sea. The flood levels around Bangkok is however still stable as floodwater remaining in most fields in the North and at various industrial estates started flowing down slowly to the mouth of the Chao Phraya via various tributaries, causing the level of water in the Chao Phraya River to remain high.

Speaking at a press conference at the Flood Relief Operations Center, Mr Chalit thanked people along Klong Rangsit 8, 9 and 10 for allowing officials to open floodgates, enabling the officials to control the direction of flood water. However, some parts on the outskirts of Bangkok such as in Chiang Rak area on the east are still under threats, and numerous water pumping machines have been installed to protect the areas. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration is setting up sand bags on a distance of 6 kilometers to prevent ravaging floods.

The Director-General said sea tide is forecasted to rise to its height again during 28-30 October. He therefore asked people not to demolish flood walls but to reinforce them for a certain period of time.