Bangkok Governor MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra on Friday instructed 13 districts located along the banks of Chao Phraya River to closely monitor the water situation and brace for emergency evacuation.
Sukhumbhand said based on Friday’s hydrology forecast, the Chao Phraya will likely rise to more than 2.50 metres, triggering overflow in several areas.
High tides will exacerbate the water level from Saturday to Monday.
Yesterday saw the Chao Phraya River peak at 2.42 metres.
The city administration has been implementing an emergency evacuation order covering four districts, Don Mueang, Sai Mai, Bang Phlat and Thawee Wattana, particularly the Thammasop area.
The inundation in Sai Mai has risen by an additional 15 centimetres in the last 24 hours. The floodwater in Thawee Wattana rose additional 16 centimetres.
Thawee Watthana’s flood defence is weakest at two major canals, Mahasawat and Thawee Wattana, where there is no permanent levee to deter the water flow.
In Bang Phlat, the inundation varies from one meter to 70 centimetres.
Due to the rising floodwaters, services including relief operations at Don Mueang district office have been relocated to Lak Si district office.
The Navy’s Hydrology Department issued a daily forecast saying the Chao Phraya River would swell to 2.57 meters at 8.03am on Friday and to 2.44 meters at 5.52pm.
The river’s water level would vary from 2.60 to 2.65 metres from Saturday to Monday.
Transport Minister Sukumpol Suwannatat said the government is expected Friday afternoon to finalise its decision whether to demolish certain sections of five main roads in eastern Bangkok in order to speed up the drainage into the sea via Samut Prakan.
In northern Bangkok, the flood continues to spread via Phaholyothin and Vibhavadi-Rangsit roads. In certain areas, the inundation rose to 1.2 metres.
The overflow from the Hok Wa Canal in Sai Mai has started to inundate Soi Watcharaphol.
The water is seeping toward Chaeng Wattana Road but has not yet reached it.
