Flooding: Bangkok need not worry
Bangkok residents should not worry too much because flooding has only a limited impact on Bangkok, says Seree Supratid, a lecturer at Rangsit University.
The city has a better and more comprehensive system against flooding than, for example, Sukothai, which was flooded last Monday as a result of a broken river dike.
Seree is a well-known appearance in Thai living rooms. Last year he co-hosted the television program 'Tord Bode Rien Vikrit Nam Tuam 2011' (2011 Flood Analysis) with Darin Klong-ugkara. He acquired great authority with his precise, politically devoid approach.
Large reservoirs contain less water than last year
So don't worry too much, although heavy rains can exceed the capacity of Bangkok's sewage system. In some areas it will take six to ten hours to drain the water, but otherwise Bangkok remains safe. Two factors can cause flooding in Bangkok: a large outflow of water from the main reservoirs, which is unlikely, and the collapse of dikes along the river.'
These reservoirs now contain much less water than at the same time last year. The Bhumibol reservoir is 52 percent full, Sirikit 61 percent and Pasak Jolasid 43 percent. So there is little danger to be feared from that side.
Flooding likely in Central Region and South
A different story applies to the central region and the South. Heavy rains until Tuesday could cause flooding in Phetchaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Ranong, Chumphon, Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phuket and Phang Nga. The low-lying areas in the Central Plains are affected by water from the Pasak Jolasid dam. And the Tha Rua and Nakhon Luang districts of Ayutthaya are vulnerable because the Chao Praya River downstream of the Chao Praya Dam has limited capacity. But after Ayutthaya it increases again.
Government does not listen to experts
Seree, a member of the Strategic Committee for Water Resources Management, is not pleased with the bickering between the Bangkok municipality and the government's Water and Flood Management Commission. He also criticizes 'some' in the government who hardly listen to water experts.
“We have presented a short-term plan to the government, but they are not listening to us. They just went on with their work without consulting us. We warned them it was wrong, which they did. Sukothai is illustrative. We pointed out the risk of dike breaches at the outset. And eventually that happened. The government should concentrate on strengthening the dikes and flood walls along the river, which were damaged last year.'
(Source: Bangkok Post, September 14, 2012)
Flood news September 15
• Water from the Noi River is diverted to fields in Phak Hai district (Ayutthaya) to contain a large amount of water from the North, responsible for flooding in some provinces. This has no negative consequences for the farmers, because they have already harvested.
• The water that flooded Sukothai is now on its way to Phitsanulok and from there flows south to the Chao Phraya barrage in Chai Nat province. It will later be decided whether part of the water will be drained to fields in Bang Ban (Ayutthaya). [Barrage is a better term than dam or reservoir, a term that is used in other messages. That barrage is a kind of overflow.]
• The water level in the Chao Praya, Noi and Pasak has risen by 5 to 20 cm. It will continue to rise in the coming days due to the water flowing over the Chao Praya barrage.
• About 3.000 households living along the Noi River in the Sena district have been flooded. Eight tambons have been declared a disaster area. Residential communities in the neighboring province of Ang Thong are also under water.
• The king has provided 2.000 survival kits for the residents of Sena and Bang Ban.
• Residents of tambon Champa Lo in the Central Plains dismantled their homes near the Chao Praya for fear they would sink into the river. Earlier, a piece of the river dike with a length of 200 meters had collapsed.
• In two tambons in Chaiyaphum, a tidal wave from a mountain range flooded many fields and roads. Prime Minister Yingluck has encouraged the residents.
• In Tak province, water from the Wang River has broken through a dike road. Four hundred houses are under 1,5 meters of water.
About this blogger
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Known as Khun Peter (62), lives alternately in Apeldoorn and Pattaya. In a relationship with Kanchana for 14 years. Not yet retired, have my own company, something with insurance. Crazy about animals, especially dogs and music.
Enough hobbies, but unfortunately little time: writing for Thailandblog, fitness, health and nutrition, shooting sports, chatting with friends and some other oddities.
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