Action taken to prevent floods in Greater Bangkok

BANGKOK, August 21 (TNA) - The Royal Irrigation Department is speeding up releasing water from canals and rivers in Bangkok and peripheral areas into the sea to prevent floods during the late rainy season. Royal Irrigation Department Deputy Director-General Thongplew Kongchan told journalists on August 20 that he has ordered the 11th Royal Irrigation Office to expedite releasing water from the natural sources in Bangkok, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Samut Prakan and Samut Sakhon Provinces into the Gulf of Thailand through the Chaophraya River and the Bangpakong River. Thongplew said the action is to prepare the natural water sources in Greater Bangkok for a possible new round of heavy downpours during the late rainy season in the coming weeks in order to prevent inundations in the capital and the surronding provinces. According to official reports, stream flows of water in the Chaophraya River were, meanwhile, latest measured at 1,266 cubic meters per second, while the capacity of the main river to take water inflows stands at 3,000-3,500 cubic meters per second. Besides, water levels at four main Thai dams, including the Bhumibol Dam, the Sirikit Dam, the Kwai Noi Bamrungdan Dam and the Pasak Jolasid Dam now stand at about 53 per cent on average of the total capacity of each of the dams and they can, thus, take a large amount of water inflows additionally. (TNA)