BANGKOK, Nov 3 – The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) on Thursday advised the evacuation of an additional district of Bang Khae in western Bangkok after the water level in Khlong Maha Sawat continued to rise.
Meanwhile, another four districts — Chatuchak, Bang Bon, Bangkok Noi and Phasi Charoen – have been announced as areas to be closely monitored. Residents in the four districts should move their valuables to higher ground, Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra.
Floodwater in the capital’s eastern districts is also rising, caused partly by opening sluice gates at Khlongs 8, 9, and 10 in Pathum Thani, he said during the press briefing. However, the BMA has cooperated with the central government’s Flood Relief Operations Centre (FROC) to close them.
Regarding an attempt to regulate the incoming northern run-off, the governor said the installation of giant sandbags, the so-called ‘big bags’, each of which contains crushed stone and sand, weighing about 1.6 tonnes, in the Rangsit area will be completed on Thursday.
The five-kilometre big bag wall will act as a barrier to block more floodwater from advancing into Phaholyothin Road in northern Bangkok and the water will be diverted to the eastern part before being drained into the sea.
Regarding the flood relief effort, the governor said the BMA will establish a “Bangkok Kitchen” at Laan Khon Mueang Plaza in front of City Hall on Friday to cook food for distribution to flood victims. He asked for cooperation from both state and private sector organisations as well as donations from the public. (MCOT online news)
