BANGKOK, Aug 2 – The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) can handle the flood run-off from the North and continuing rains triggered by tropical depression Nock-Ten, according to Deputy Bangkok Governor Porntep Techapaibul.
Mr Porntep on Tuesday assured the public that preparedness and prevention measures have been put in place to cope with the water run-off from the North which is expected to reach the capital Aug 10. He said that floodwaters flowing from the country’s north are forecast at a rate of 1,760 cubic metres per second.
However, the city administration will be able to manage the expected waterflow, the deputy governor said.
Mr Porntep explained that 2.5-3-metre-high dykes erected by BMA along the Chao Phraya River are necessary to cope with the expected volume of water, without additional makeshift dykes, saying that the BMA provided water pumping stations, water holding areas, giant drainage tunnels and flood prevention centres in preparation for the possible overflow.
Though the situation of the flowing northern run-off is not worrying, Mr Porntep said that he urged flood-related metropolitan officials to be on high alert in order to prevent and quickly respond to the possible floods in the capital around the clock.
Apart from flood prevention, he also ordered BMA agencies to provide related equipment, medical supplies and medicine.
Meanwhile, all offices in 50 Bangkok districts have been tasked to dredge clay and sand dunes in canals, build makeshift bridges, and provide sandbags and temporary evacuation centres. Seven hundred city officials will be on standby to provide help for flood-hit city dwellers.
Mr Porntep expressed concern for those living along the Chao Phraya River outside the 4.7 kilometre flood dykes.
Fourteen northern and northeastern provinces have been hit by floods triggered by tropical depression Nock-Ten, and one flood-related death was reported in the northeastern province of Udon Thani.
Thailand’s Meteorological Department forecast that fairly widespread rain and isolated heavy rains are expected in the metropolitan area Wednesday.
In another related development, the Bangkok-Chiang Mai train services resumed today after finishing repairs of flooded rail tracks, according to State Railway of Thailand.
