BANGKOK, Aug 27 (TNA) – Bangkok authorities say they are prepared to handle northern floodwaters, expecting water from Sukhothai to reach the capital in six days.
Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt stated that while the city is more concerned about rainfall, the overall situation regarding northern floodwaters appears manageable. He reassured residents that the current circumstances do not mirror the severe 2011 floods.
He took a boat trip this morning to inspect the readiness of flood prevention along the Chao Phraya River.
“The current situation is incomparable to the 2011 flood. You can rest assured. But we don’t know how much rain will fall in the north in May. Today’s situation is completely different from 2011. It’s not as severe. What we need to watch out for is if Bangkok gets more than 200mm of rain, it will be a problem because the drainage system is designed for 60mm. As for the upstream water, we still have enough capacity to handle it, ” said the governor.
Deputy Governor Wisanu Subsompon reported that the four main dams in the Chao Phraya River basin have better capacity to hold water compared to last year. However, officials are closely monitoring water masses from the Yom River that flow directly into the Chao Phraya River without passing through major dams.
Water from Sukhothai is expected to reach Bangkok around September 2, according to city officials. The discharge rate at Bang Sai station, a crucial monitoring point for the capital, is currently at 989 cubic meters per second, well below the alert level of 2,500 cubic meters per second.
In preparation, authorities have reinforced flood barriers along the Chao Phraya River to levels surpassing those of the 2011 floods and have checked 96 pumping stations for operational readiness. Despite these measures, 16 communities outside the flood barriers, encompassing 731 households across 7 districts, remain at risk of potential flooding.
Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has prepared emergency response teams and equipment to assist residents in case of flooding. The city has also been continuously managing water levels in canals and improving drainage systems to handle heavy rainfall more efficiently. -819 (TNA)
