Residents wonder when Pattaya officials
will take problem seriously
Another rain storm, another bout of
uncontrolled flooding - torrential rain June 13 paralyzed downtown
Pattaya, with knee-deep water drowning many of the sois between Beach
and Second roads.
Phasakorn Channgam
Another rain storm, another bout of uncontrolled
flooding: It was the same old story this week in Pattaya, where
officials continue to neglect high-water problems that repeatedly damage
city homes and businesses.
More than two hours of torrential rain June 13
paralyzed downtown Pattaya, with knee-deep water drowning many of the
sois between Beach and Second roads and traffic gridlocked on major
thoroughfares as nearly a meter of water stalled motorbikes and cars
from South Road to well past Central Festival Pattaya Beach.
The morning gale also brought down trees throughout
the area, including several large ones in the public park near Soi 13/1,
where felled trees blocked walkways.
But it was the flooding that angered most people, who
believe the city has done too little to remedy persistent deluges.
Nearly three hours after most of the rain had stopped, water lapped over
Second Road sidewalks from The Avenue Galleria to Soi Diana, fed by
raging rivers of storm water venting from side sois.
Unfortunately, because the city has done virtually
nothing to remedy drain backups near The Avenue for more than two years,
the high water was expected. The same could not be said for the
even-higher water levels seen from Tipp Plaza to Central Festival, where
the city previously taken a stab or two at clearing drains for the
marquee shopping mall.
This week, however, even Central Festival was plagued
by water racing into the underground parking garage and up to the mall’s
entrance.
Down the road, staff at the Siam Bay View blocked off
the Second Road entrance with sandbags to hold back the water. Owners of
small roadside shops, bars and restaurants weren’t as lucky, putting up
valuables on tables and fighting back floods with brooms.
An early morning storm on Friday, June 10 also caused
flooding throughout the area, and especially in South Pattaya.
Shopkeepers and residents alike wondered why
Pattaya’s government has done so little to solve the flooding when the
problems are so obvious. The fact that city drain-cleaning trucks sat
unmanned and empty just down the street only added insult to injury.
