BANGKOK, Oct 25 -The Cabinet today declared Thursday through Monday Oct 27-31 as extra holidays in 21 provinces including Bangkok to allow residents in areas, affected by floods to handle the flood situation during the weekend high tide period as flood water from northern run-off is now flowing into northern Bangkok.
The Cabinet meeting was chaired by Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra at Don Mueang Airport where the Flood Relief Operations Centre (FROC) is situated.
The extra holidays are aimed at allowing residents in Bangkok and other 20 provinces to respond to the flood emergency during the high tide period, which could worsen flood problems in the capital.
Latest reports indicate that floodwaters now extend from Rangsit, north of Bangkok, along Phaholyothin Road to Don Mueang Royal Thai Air Force Base and Yingcharoen Market.
The water level has reached 30cm and is overflowing on sidewalks. The left traffic lane is impassable for small vehicles. Traffic became congested Tuesday morning, the first workday of the week after Monday’s public holiday.
In the northwestern Bangkok district of Bangphlat, Charansanitwong Road from Bangphlat intersection to the Rama VII Bridge is rising after the flood barrier in Soi Charansanitwong 80 at the Chao Phraya River was breached on Monday and floodwater from adjacent Nonthaburi’s Bang Kruai district overflowed to Charansanitwong Road.
The highest water level was 1.50 metres at the junction of Soi Charansanitwong 84 with the main road, so that small vehicles cannot pass. Local residents were to be evacuated by military trucks.
