Bangkok, concerns about a flood are increasing

The residents of Bangkok start hoarding food and park their cars on safe ground. Heavy rainfall Saturday night flooded parts of the city.

Concerns are increasing, especially since Prime Minister Yingluck admitted in her TV speech on Friday that the government is 'almost at its wits' end. The situation in the capital becomes critical between October 16 and October 18, when the high tide is high, large amounts of water arrive from the north and heavy rains fall, as predicted.

The most important news facts:

• Schools in the city will be used as shelters.
• The situation in the 27 neighborhoods outside the flood walls is closely monitored, as well as the eastern part of Bangkok, including the districts of Min Buri, Nong Chok, Lat Krabang and Klong Sam Wa.
• Ditto Vibhavadi Rangsit road and Ram Intra road.
• District offices act as emergency centers.
• Municipal workers have been sent to Pathum Thani to reinforce flood walls. Water from that province threatens Don Mueang, Lak Si and Sai Mai.
• The water in the Chao Praya River has reached a height of 2,03 meters and is still below the flood wall of 2,5 meters.
• The National Flood Relief Center in Don Mueang, which opened on Saturday, has asked the army to send 100.000 sandbags to Pathum Thani. This should protect the northern part of Bangkok (in which Don Mueang is located).
• A thousand boats with their engines running will be deployed at the mouth of the Chao Praya on Monday to speed up the water flow to the sea.

Critical note

In a letter to the Bangkok Post, Dr. Vichit Phanumphai writes that he has little confidence in the BMA (Bangkok Municipal Government). The Vibhavadi road was flooded after only 100 mm stir had fallen. 'Apparently, besides dummy CCTV cameras, the BMA also resorts to the use of dummy water pumps.' [It was recently announced that there are about five hundred fake cameras in Bangkok.]

Other news

• The amount of water from the North is increasing. The Bhumibol Reservoir receives 136 million cubic meters per day and discharges 100 million cubic meters per day, the maximum it can handle. The water is 0,83 percent below the flood level.
• The Ping River overflows in Muang, Ban Tak, and Wang Chao (Tak) districts.
• The center of Chai Nat province was flooded yesterday. The Chai Nat-Takhli section of highway number 1 is closed.
• Rain raises the water level of the Wang River in Khampaeng Phet. The excess water goes to the Ping River, which is already waxing due to rainfall.
• The repair of the Bang Chomsri weir in Sing Buri province is progressing, but slowly. The weir is important for controlling the water in the Central Plains. The weir is expected to be operational again on 12 October.
• Democratic party spokesman Chavanond Intarakomalyasut called the establishment of the command center at Don Mueang airport a positive step, but it came late. Chavanond called on the government to help people in risk areas in advance next time and not wait for those areas to flood and only then take action.

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