BANGKOK, Nov 9 – The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) on Wednesday issued an evacuation advisory for Khan Na Yao and Ramindra subdistricts in Khan Na Yao district.
Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra also announced a special close watch for possible evacuation of Lat Phrao subdistrict of Lat Phrao.
Residents were advised to move their belongings to higher ground. Patients, children, the elderly and pregnant women should move to safer areas.
The BMA is working with agencies, NGOs and the private sector to distribute food, drinking water, medicine and mobile toilets to 470 locations in districts with deep flooding. The cooperating agencies are the Ruamkatunyu Foundation, the Stock Exchange of Thailand, Dhurakij Pundit University, Kasem Bundit University, the Flood Fight volunteer group, Singha Corporation and Thai Bev Pcl.
The BMA will also receive assistance from the Interior Ministry under “One Province One District” project to be launched Thursday at the Royal Plaza. Under the project, mobile toilets, boats, pumps, life jackets will be offered by the provinces to flood victims in Bangkok.
Regarding garbage collection problem in flooded areas, the BMA has hired more collectors to work in 18 districts from Nov 10 to Dec 31 and purchased more garbage collecting equipment.
The amount of garbage which has accumulated will be reduced in three days, the governor said.
Meanwhile, the BMA has cancelled its annual Loy Krathong festival, originally set for tomorrow (Nov 10) in all districts for the safety of festival goers, due to the ongoing flood.
City Hall annually sponsors the traditional Thai festival, near Rama VIII Bridge and other areas.The annual festival falls on the full moon of the 12th month of the Thai lunar calendar.
Despite the cancellation, Bangkok residents can celebrate the Loy Krathong and float krathongs, hand-made rafts carrying flowers, candles and incense, into ponds at BMA’s public parks which are not flooded.
The authorities also asked the festivalgoers to float fewer krathongs during this year’s festival in order to help reduce amounts of garbage which may obstruct the drainage system.
