The governor made an urgent announcement just before midnight Sunday, advising residents of Don Mueang, Laksi, Bang Khen, Chatujak, Bang Sue and Sai Mai districts to move their belongings to higher ground and evacuate some vulnerable citizens including the elderly, patients and children to temporary shelters provided by the local authorities.
Flood Relief Operations Centre (FROC) director Pracha Promnok made the central government’s official update in a televised address shortly after the announcement of Governor Subhumbhand that the centre is prepared to help and support the operations of BMA to respond flooding in six districts and that Bangkok can cooperate with the centre around the clock.
In his 11.30pm statement, Mr Sukhumbhand urged Bangkokians to continue to pay close attention to the situation, but he reassured the public that City Hall, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), will do its best to work with the Flood Relief Operations Command (FROC) to help those who are dislocated and otherwise hit by the flooding.
Gov Sukhumbhand said he will announce his assessment of the situation again on Monday and said he will inform Bangkokians himself if the flooding turns critical.
The governor said he has asked the foreign ministry to inform embassies and foreign diplomats living in the six areas and nearby to monitor the situation. The BMA released both English and Thai statements on its website to report the situation to Bangkok residents www.bangkokgis.com/flood/.
