High Tides, Heavy Run-off But Governor Says Bangkok Won't Flood

High tides, heavy run-off but Governor says Bangkok won't flood

BANGKOK: -- Despite high tides and heavy rainfall run-off collecting through the Chao Phraya River basin, Bangkok will not flood this year.

The eastern approaches to Bangkok are not expected to flood during this year's rainy season as 17 new water gates begin operation later this week, and some three million sandbags will be used as embankments within the inner precincts of the capital to prevent floods, Bangkok governor Apirak Kosayodhin promises.

Leading senior officials of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), Governor Apirak on Saturday inspected preparations aimed at preventing floods on Bangkok's eastern perimeter and later met officials of the Royal Irrigation Department and Pathum Thani provincial authorities in reviewing preparations

for this year's flood season.

Mr. Apirak said 11 watergates built by BMA and another six constructed by the Royal Irrigation Department would be completed and be in operation later this week.

The preparations, he said, could prevent flooding in the low-lying eastern district of the capital while excessive water can be pumped out to Chachoengsao province and to the Gulf of Thailand.

The water level in three major reservoirs--including the Bhumipol, the Pasak Cholasit and the Sirikit--is now quite high at around 85 per cent of total capacity, while water releases are taking place at 2,200 cubic metres per second. The BMA will cooperate with the Royal Irrigation Department in releasing water at not more than 2,500 cubic metres per second, he said.

Mr. Apirak said BMA had prepared for sandbagging operations to be used within the metropolis, as the inner part of the capital historically experiences the consequences of heavy rainfall up country moving towards the sea and annual high tides.

Much of Bangkok is situated at one metre or less above sea level, and minor fluctuations in the river, and with ocean tides can cause havoc in the city.

It is expected that high tides will reach their peak this on Thursday-Saturday (September 28-30).

Meanwhile, the Meteorological Department has forecast more rain for most parts of the country in the next few days, with an approaching tropical depression now centred in the South China Sea.

Downpours are also likely in Bangkok and surrounding areas.

--TNA 2006-09-24