Bangkok ill-prepared for flood
There are three 'holes' in the protection of Bangkok against water from the North and they must be closed quickly.
In Phatum Thani (north of Bangkok) a 10-kilometre sandbag embankment is being constructed, the flood wall along Rangsit Khlong 5 (also on the north side of Bangkok) is being constructed from 1,5 million sandbags and behind the Mahidol University campus in Taling Chan comes number 3. The three flood walls must divert the water via the east and west sides of Bangkok. Authorities aim to have them installed by Thursday.
Prime Minister Yingluck had to admit yesterday that the protection of Bangkok is not watertight and Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra, who insisted that Bangkok was optimally protected in previous days, said this time that people should not panic. The preparations of the municipality are concentrated on a limited number of areas that are vulnerable: 27 neighborhoods outside the flood wall, which surround Bangkok, and the districts of Min Buri, Nong Chok, Lat Krabang and Khlong Sam Wa. 191 shelters have been set up for the residents of those four districts.
According to one source, the prime minister was frustrated that Bangkok did not open its dams on the east side of the city, resulting in slow draining of water in the central provinces. The governor has previously defended this, arguing that opening it all the way would lead to flooding in Samut Prakan province.
Fortunately, it is not all doom and gloom, because a high pressure area from China is reducing rainfall Thailand. The amount of water in the Chao Praya towards Bangkok is stable or slightly decreasing.
But residents in Nonthaburi reported floodwaters coming out of sewers. The districts of Pak Kret, Bang Bua Thong, Muang, Bang Kruai, Bang Yai and Sai Noi were flooded.
From Sunday to Tuesday things get exciting when water arrives from the North, more stir is expected and it is high.