Bangkok 'still at risk'

Jutarat Thipnumpa

The Nation

Bangkok still needs to be on guard against the risk of flooding, a prominent expert warned yesterday.

BANGKOK: -- Working with the Water and Flood Management Commission (WFMC), Royol Jitdon said his subcommittee on water-situation analysis had now requested pumps from the Royal Thai Army and the Royal Thai Navy to boost the capital's ability to facilitate water flow out to the sea.

"There are 62 pumps in eastern Bangkok," he said in his capacity as chair of the subcommittee.

Although the Gaemi storm has already been downgraded into a low-pressure cell, it can still spread rain and sometimes downpours over a wide area of Thailand. "On the western side, there are 25 pumps," Royol said.

He said Bangkok did not have significant slope to help water to flow to the sea naturally and efficiently and there's a need for pumps.

"We have also installed pumps at strategic locations in Bangkok's nearby areas such as Nakhon Pathom, Samut Prakan and Chachoengsao," he added.

According to Royol, the amount of water in the Phra Ong Chao Chaiyanuchit Canal is now lower than the level it had to deal with last year.

"But we are still urgently pushing water out to the sea. We want to keep the water level in this key canal below 1.5 metres," he said.

Last year, Bangkok experienced a serious inundation as the country faced the worst flood in decades. Hundreds of people were killed, seven industrial estates were submerged and millions of people were displaced.

This year, authorities are working really hard to prevent the wrath of the floods.

In Ratchaburi, flooding damaged a bridge in Suan Phueng district and soldiers from the Royal Thai Army's Engineering Department rushed in to erect a temporary bridge. Several other local bridges were also at risk.

-- The Nation 2012-10-10

(yawn)...

More pumps the better.

More pumps the better.

Pumps ? thought is was water pushing machines this year

Sandbags, sandbags, more sandbags.

the biggest threat to Bangkok is stupidity, political agendas and morons grabbing a piece of the limelight with ill thought out pronouncements.

I grow weary of this nonsense.

using the nation as a primary source of news doesn't do anyone any favors either.

from the OP:

Last year, Bangkok experienced a serious inundation as the country faced the worst flood in decades. Hundreds of people were killed, seven industrial estates were submerged and millions of people were displaced.

This year, authorities are working really hard to prevent the wrath of the floods.

really, what is this crap?

Edited October 10, 201213 yr by tinfoilhat

(yawn)...

When the Thai Government says it is working hard to stem the flood it is only talking about Bangkok. The rest of Thail;and is a non entity to the Government until it comes time to get their votes.

Not that any one cares but the real solution is to let the water go where it is going to go and rebuild accordingly. Mother Nature will always be the winner in the long run. Far better to work with her than against her.

Did Burma build their new capital on a flood plane?

We are in the tropics. We have tropical downpours. Do we need tropical storms for this to happen? No. Is there flooding every year in some place or another in Thailand? Yes. Same song, umpteenth verse. Move along, nothing to see here, except this: