BANGKOK, Oct 11 – Thailand’s Suvarnabhumi Airport is well-prepared for any emergency with flood-protection measures and its contingency plan is operational to cope with any possible flooding, according to the airport spokesperson.
Thailand’s largest airport has sought cooperation from the Rural Highways Department to dredge Lad Krabang canal to make full use of its capacity and more quickly and efficiently drain floodwater to the sea. The Royal Irrigation Department has also been asked to quickly pump the gathering floodwater to the sea.
To prevent the inner areas of the airport from flooding, the airport has teamed up with the Rural Highways Department to strengthen earthen dykes around the area. In addition, a water-retention reservoir within the airport compound is now 25 per cent of full capacity, one million cubic metres, and is able to absorb as much as 3 million cubic metres, according to the airport spokesperson.
To ensure its flood-control efficiency, Ms Wilaiwan said the airport has put in place its contingency plan to cope with the situation. Airlines, business operators as well as state agencies have been given details of the plan which is ready to put into effect once the situation warrants.
The spokesperson explained that the airport’s flood-prevention system includes three-metre high 23.5 kilometre earthen floodwall, a surrounding reservoir, and six drainage canals. Two water-pumping stations equipped with four water pumps each on the southern boundary of the airport. Each water pump has ability to pump out one million cubic metres of water a day.
The system is designed to withstand rainfalls as much as 149 millimetres a day. The highest rainfall recorded at Suvarnabhumi since it started operations in 2006 was 105.2 millimetres in Oct 2009.
