Increased flood threat emerges due to rainfall and runoff in the capital city
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is bracing for heavy rainfall expected in the capital until Monday, with flood response centres established in all 50 of Bangkok's districts.
According to the latest forecasts, the southwest monsoon continues to cover Thailand, the Andaman Sea, and the Gulf of Thailand. As a result, heavy rainfall is expected in the North, Northeast, and East of Thailand from today until Wednesday.
To tackle this potential deluge, the BMA is leaving no stone unturned. Jetsada Juntaraprapha, the director of the BMA's Drainage and Sewerage Department, has stated that the BMA is preparing for the combined impact of northern runoff and tidal surges, which could persist until November in Bangkok.
The BMA's preparations include readying more than 900,000 additional sandbags for emergencies in Bangkok. Nearly 100 pumping stations on both sides of the Chao Phraya River have been readied as well. Bangkok has 88km of flood barriers along the Chao Phraya River, Klong Maha Sawat, and Klong Bangkok Noi, with weak spots and unfinished sections reinforced with sandbags.
The Office of the National Water Resources (ONWR) is also playing a crucial role in managing the situation. They have coordinated with the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (Egat) to maintain water discharge from the Bhumibol Dam in Tak province at 10 million cubic metres per day. This action enables the Royal Irrigation Department (RID) to regulate the water released from the Chao Phraya Dam in Chai Nat at 2,200 cubic metres per second.
However, the RID is considering increasing the discharge rate from the Chao Phraya Dam, which could affect low-lying areas outside flood barriers in Ang Thong, Ayutthaya, and Sing Buri, where some communities are already experiencing flooding.
Mr. Sophon Suksri, the head of the Drainage and Sewerage Department of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, is leading the efforts from his office in the Bang Sue district of Bangkok.
Flooding is forecast in several areas nationwide, particularly in low-lying communities along the Chao Phraya River. As always, it is essential for everyone to stay informed and follow any instructions from local authorities during this period.
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