The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has been preparing to cope with potential flooding in communities along the Chao Phraya River unprotected by a permanent flood wall, due to a combination of northern runoffs, high tides and heavy rain forecast for this month.
Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt and senior city officials took members of the media on a boat trip today along the Chao Phraya River, to observe unprotected riverside communities and the measures already adopted to protect these areas from possible flooding.
The governor told the media that many city dwellers have expressed concerns about flooding, as the level of water in the Chao Phraya River is steadily rising.
He said the BMA is closely monitoring the water situation in coordination with several agencies, among them the Royal Irrigation Department and the National Water Resources Office.
He said that the city administration has prepared manpower to help people affected by flooding, undertaken regular inspections of flood and sandbag walls and has unclogged drainage systems.
There are 32 areas along the Chao Phraya River which are not protected by a floodwall, 22 of which have already been filled with sandbags, said the governor, adding that almost 200,000 sandbags have already been installed to protect riverside communities.
The BMA has been providing updated information about the water situation on its websites, so members of the public are able to keep stay abreast of the situation.
