Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) Takes Measures To Brace For Flooding

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BMA Takes Measures to Brace for Flooding

As Bangkok braces for the Chao Phraya River to overflow its banks, it has remained constant so far.

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration has piled up a 2.5-meter sandbag barricade as a precautionary measure.

Drainage and Sewerage Department Director Sanya Sheenimitra said the water level of Chao Phraya River remains steady.

Consequently, it doesn't look like it will overflow into communities along the river.

He said that the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, or BMA, has reinforced the embankment by putting up a 2.5-meter sandbag wall.

In the meantime, Bangkok Governor M.R.Sukhumbhand Paribatra will inspect the embankment and water level in the Chao Phraya River today at 6.30 P.M.

The BMA Flood Control Center reported that today's run-off from the Nakhon Sawan Dam, which merges with water in Rama VI(6) Dam, has been measured at 4,129 cubic meters per second.

Meanwhile, water flowing through the Bang Sai Dam has reached 3,124 cubic meters per second, an increase of 121 cubic meters per second from yesterday's rate.

Meanwhile, the Royal Irrigation Department said that today's high would be 1.77 meters, which will occur at 9.30 P.M.

Royal Irrigation Department Deputy Director Weera Wongsangnak said that the water flowing through Nakhon Sawan Province has been measured at 3,935 cubic meters per second, which is 51 cubic meters a second more than the department has earlier estimated.

This has led to water levels increasing marginally, by 2 to 3 centimeters.

Meanwhile, run off from the Chao Phraya River is at around 3,709 cubic meters a second.

As for Ayutthaya's Bang Sai Dam, the run-off has decreased to 2,946 cubic meter per second.

Weera insisted that Bangkok would not experience flash flooding, and he expects flood water levels in Nakhon Sawan, Ang Thong, and Singburi Provinces to reach their peak levels within the next three days.

He has instructed area officials and those living along the river to inspect the sandbag walls, cautioning that the bags have been saturated with water for a long time, so there is a risk of them breaking down.

-- Tan Network 2011-09-19