Bangkok still has to watch out for possible flooding while massive run-offs from upper Thailand are expected to pass the capital through Chao Phraya River in the aftermath of Typhoon Mangkhut and the monsoon will continue for a month or two.
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is working closely together with the Royal Irrigation Department and other agencies in managing the massive run-offs draining into the sea through the city, said Bangkok governor Aswin Kwanmuang.
Though he is confident Bangkok could well manage the excess water, Pol Gen Aswin said there are three factors that may cause flooding in the city, which are the northern run-offs, high sea and more rain.
He was speaking while leading a water management team to visit eastern Bangkok Wednesday. The eastern part of Bangkok is now reportedly dealing with a considerably higher volume of water in the river and canals.
Department of Drainage and Sewerage has prepared 3 million sandbags, which will be distributed to Bangkok residents in flood-prone areas, he said.
Pongsak Arunwijitsakul, director of the 11th Royal Irrigation Office, said although the volume of water in Chao Phraya River this year isn’t very high, the volume of water in those water catchments in the Central Plains is very high.
The water management in Bangkok is still under control but the city would still have to closely monitor the water situation while the monsoon is still here and is expected to last until November, he said.
The Royal Irrigation Department has previously installed more water pumps in areas around Bangkok as part of an effort to prevent flooding in the city, he said.
In a daily weather forecast today, Meteorological Department said rain was expected in about 60% of Bangkok and the surrounding provinces.
Rain and isolated heavy rain are predicted in the lower North, the Central Plains, the East and the South from Wednesday until Monday (Sept 20-24), warned Samroeng Saengphuwong, director of the government’s temporary centre for crisis management.
In response to the warning, Prateep Boriboonrat, head of the Ayutthaya provincial disaster prevention and mitigation office and provincial governor Sujit Chaichumsak ordered agencies concerned to step up flood prevention measures, especially in areas around the major industrial estates in the province.
