Bangkok braces for possible inundations

BANGKOK, September 26 (TNA) - The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) braces for possible floods in some areas caused by a new wave of downpours, forecast by the Meteorological Department to hit the capital throughout this week with heavy ones during the coming weekend. Bangkok Deputy Governor Amorn Kitchawengkul told journalists of the move on Monday, after a meeting with BMA senior officials to discuss measures to handle the new wave of rainfalls. Amorn said the planned measures should alleviate traffic congestion on main roads but additional measures will be applied to over 300 flood-prone minor roads, side-streets and old villages, particularly those in Don Mueang and farm areas in eastern Bangkok namely Minburi, Lat Krabang and Nong Chok. Amorn revealed that he has ordered his City Hall's Department of Drainage and Sewerage to be on alert and to work together with district offices by draining water out canals and installing more water pumps. Besides, residential areas along the canals must be prepared for the possibly critical level of water at 60 centimeters above the sea level, as the water level in Bangkok’s canals now stands at 50 centimeters above the sea level. According to the deputy governor, the water level in the Chao Phraya River, Thailand's main river, now stands at around 1.05 meters above the sea level, much lower than its critical level of 1.70 meters above the sea level, and people should not, thus, be worried at the moment. The deputy governor noted that he has also ordered BMA’s Department of Drainage and Sewerage to cooperate with Bangkok's neighboring provinces, including Samut Prakarn and Nonthaburi Provinces, to prevent possible flooding in their respective areas. Meanwhile, Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan, who oversees national security, told reporters that he has ordered military units to be ready to help deal with possible flooding in the country at the best of their efforts and capabilities, covering immediate assistance dispatched to affected people and areas without waiting for their higher authorities' approvals. The Thai deputy premier acknowledged that, funded by state budgets, the military has also supported canal dredging, the construction of dikes and the eradication of more than seven tons of water hyacinths that had blocked water flows, while having also helped check and control water levels at local sources. (TNA)