Flood Warning For Bangkok

[george]

Flood warning issued

BANGKOK: -- People in the capital living outside the flood barriers along the Chao Phya River, Bangkok Noi Canal and Mahasawat Canal have been warned to brace for floods, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration said yesterday.

The BMA Drainage and Sewerage Department warned that the Chao Phya was facing high tides, with water levels expected to be 1.75 metres above sea level at 6.30pm yesterday.

Meanwhile, the Meteorological Department issued a warning that tropical depression Francisco in the South China Sea had been downgraded to a low-pressure ridge over Laos, and would bring heavy rains to northern and northeastern Thailand.

The Southwest monsoon over the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea was moderate, it said, bringing isolated heavy to very heavy rain in southern Thailand. Two-metre-high waves were forecast for the Andaman Sea.

-- The Nation 2007-09-27

[george]

Flood warning for Bangkok; Suvarnabhumi airport not endangered

BANGKOK: -- Bangkok Deputy Governor Bannasophit Mekwichai has ordered local authorities to warn residents along the Chao Phraya River and connecting canals to move at-risk belongings to higher ground due to the rising water level from the combined high tide and northern run-off on Wednesday evening.

Government labourers have built sandbag embankments along the river as the water level in the river will remain high for the next few days.

But the Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry is confident its water management will effectively prevent flooding near Suvarnabhumi airport and in the central provinces, so that the extensive floods in those areas last year won't recur during this year's rainy season.

Agriculture Minister Thira Sutabutra said the Royal Irrigation Department (RID) and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) have cooperated to prevent flooding in the capital and the surrounding areas.

Effective water management, including controlling sluice gates and draining water from Chao Phraya River dams, will make water drain to the sea faster.

Officials have dredged canals around Suvarnbhumi airport to prevent flooding in eastern Bangkok and nearby areas. The measures will prevent the extensive flooding such as occurred last year.

The flooding situation in several areas has improved except in low-lying areas along the Chao Phraya River in the central province of Ang Thong and Ayutthaya, which face flood problem every year, the minister said.

RID has worked to drain flooded water from those flood-hit areas, Mr. Thira said. Paddy fields won't be much damaged as the rice growing season has just begun.

--TNA 2007-09-26