Flood warning issued for Bangkok

Despite officials hoping for a reduction in the heavy rainfall and flooding affecting many parts of Thailand, it seems the situation is not easing yet. Residents in Bangkok, along the capital’s Chao Phraya River, have been put on high alert over potential flooding. The Bangkok Post reports that the warning comes as 3,000 cubic metres of water per second flows through parts of Ayutthaya, heading for the capital. Bangkok governor, Aswin Kwanmuang has expressed concern that water levels in the Chao Phraya River could rise by between 30cm and half a metre.

Residential riverfront communities, housing 239 families in 7 Bangkok districts have been put on high alert. Meanwhile, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration is using sandbags to reinforce parts of the floodwall that stretches from Rama VII Bridge to the district of Bang Na, with 97 pumping stations on standby in the event of overflow.

Elsewhere in the country, Praphit Chanma from the Royal Irrigation Department says officials are monitoring reservoirs in Phetchaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Chumphon, and Ranong. According to the Bangkok Post report, an overflow of water is being discharged by a number of reservoirs, putting downstream areas at risk of further flooding.

Meanwhile, the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation says that around 286,000 residents across 32 provinces have been affected by flooding, with the impact still being felt in parts of the Northeast, North, and Central Thailand. So far, 8 people have been killed by the floods.

SOURCE: Bangkok Post