Categories
Articles
Rick Salasar on 
September 18, 2005
News | Bangkok Braces for Floods
BMA sets up emergency centre, pumps and sandbags to tackle expected floodwaters. Authorities launched measures yesterday to assist Bangkok residents expected to be affected by severe flooding after tropical storm "Vicente" strikes today. The Bangkok Metropolitan Authority (BMA) has set up an emergency centre to tackle the impact of flooding. The centre will cooperate with three radio stations to keep people informed with the latest storm news.
In addition, five telephone hotlines will be available for anyone in need of assistance. These are 1644, 1677, 1137, 1555 and (02) 248 5115.
About 2,000 pumps have been set up to control flooding in the capital, as well as 1.7 million sandbags, which will be used to prevent water from the Chao Phya River overflowing into the capital, Bangkok Governor Apirak Kosayodhin announced.
Prime Minister's Office Minister Newin Chidchob also declared yesterday special services for Bangkok drivers who run into trouble during the storm. A fleet of large forklift trucks will be on standby at 10 stations around the city ready to remove six- to 10-wheeled trucks that hit difficulty. There will also be 130 smaller forklifts available to remove or repair smaller vehicles, he said.
Drivers in trouble should call the 1376 hotline number.
The tropical storm is expected to hit Bangkok today and is expected to cause widespread flooding in the capital from , when the BMA's centre will begin operations.
"Normally, rainfall in Bangok is less than 60 millimetres and we could drain that water within an hour. However, the continual rainfall we will face today is expected to cause flooding as high as 150mm, making it impossible to drain the water," .
The problem might be more serious as most canals and swamp areas are already filled to brimming with water, he said.
Apart from Bangkok, the weather men yesterday warned nine provinces in the East and Northeast to expect to feel the brunt of the tropical storm: Nong Khai, Nakhon Phanom, Sakon Nakhon, Mukdahan, Amnat Charoen, Prachin Buri, Sa Kaew, Chantaburi and Trat.
Fishermen in the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand were also warned to expect strong winds for the next four days.
Meanwhile, residents in the provinces of Nakhon Sawan, Phichit and Chachoengsao yesterday were already facing serious flooding.
In Nakhon Sawan, about 500 banana farms in Chum Saeng district were hit by a 150cm-deep flood, forcing farmers to harvest their product early. Subsequently, they had to sell bananas at Bt2 per kilogram instead of the market price of Bt7.
In Phichit, continual rain has caused flooding in the districts of Sak Lek, Muang and Wangsai-phoon. Local villagers accused the provincial irrigation office of not opening the local dam's water gate in time, causing the area to flood.
In Chachoengsao, flooded areas increased to affect 700 families yesterday. Water levels rapidly rose at the rate of 20cm per hour, creating concern that the local dam could break. Local radio stations broadcast a warning to residents to evacuate to higher ground. However, authorities denied at the end of the day that any danger had existed.
Despite flooding in other provinces, Phuket continues to suffer from drought. Deputy Interior Minister Somchai Sunthornvut visited the province yesterday and announced several measures to cope with the water shortage, including using water from old mine reservoirs and diverting water from Ratchaprapha Dam.
Local businessmen said they would invest Bt500 million to produce 10,000 cubic metres of freshwater per day from seawater. The project is expected to in the next six months.
Source: The Nation
Posted by Lance Powers at September 18, 2005 05:04 AM
Comments
how about Thaksin calling in the fake flood warnings so he could be a hero?
Posted by: van_keith at September 20, 2005 06:32 PM
Saw this...
Speaking of Katrina, Sumiko Tan, a columnist for the Sunday edition of The Straits Times in Singapore, wrote: "We were shocked at what we saw. Death and destruction from natural disaster is par for the course. But the pictures of dead people left uncollected on the streets, armed looters ransacking shops, survivors desperate to be rescued, racial divisions - these were truly out of sync with what we'd imagined the land of the free to be, even if we had encountered homelessness and violence on visits there. ... If America becomes so unglued when bad things happen in its own backyard, how can it fulfill its role as leader of the world?"
Posted by: Lance Powers at September 20, 2005 07:59 PM
Now hear this. Now hear this. There will be no USA/Bush-bashing without me on point!
You got that?
Posted by: Rick Salasar at September 23, 2005 12:45 PM
