PM Yingluck: Floods now under control

The floods threatening Bangkok are now under control and water levels are starfting to fall, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said on Friday.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra

Ms Yingluck said that important economic locations had to be protected but her government would not forget ordinary flood victims. She sought cooperation from the people who protested against the closure of a water gate on the Rangsit Khlong 1 canal in Pathum Thani province, saying the government had to complete floodwalls to contain the damage.

After inspecting flood prevention in tambon Lak Hok in Pathum Thani, Ms Yingluck said floodwalls there were important because it would affect the amount of water in Khlong Prem Prachakorn and Khlong Prapa in Bangkok.

She gave an assurance the government's Flood Relief Operation Centre (FROC) and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) were trying their best to protect Bangkok from floods.

Justice Minister and FROC director Pracha Promnok said the floodwater was 50 centimetres below the top of the dykes in Lak Hok area. He had ordered them increased in height by 50 centimetres.

Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra said flood prevention measures in Lak Hok were strong. He explained that there were two lines of floodwalls there -- one line of sandbags and a soil dyke. It had been made as strong as possible, he said.

Lt Gen Yodyuth Boonyathikan, chief of the Army Air Defence Command who is responsible for flood prevention in Lak Hok, said the sandbag dyke was 1.50 metres high and the soil wall stood behind it. If the flood prevention line collapses, the floodwater would enter Khlong Prem Prachakorn and Rangsit canals.

Currently, the level of Rangsit canal was 2.5 metres higher than Khlong Prem Prachakorn canal, Lt Gen Yodyuth said.

 Pathum Thani governor Peerasak Hinmuangkao said repairs to the Ban Phrao water gate would be completed by 6pm today.

Earlier today, FROC chief Pracha said Bangkok city would not be affected by the widespread flooding.

The government's flood war room had given the highest priority to the protection of inner areas of the capital. It was working hard to drive the overflow out to the sea through the Chao Phraya River and canals in the western and eastern parts of Bangkok, Pol Gen Pracha said.

"The runoff from the North is now under control and Bangkok will not be inundated," the minister reaffirmed.

Royal Irrigation Department director-general Chalit Damrongsak took the same tone.

He said Bangkok will not be severely flooded because the amount of water running down from the North into the Chao Phraya river in Nakhon Sawan and Chai Nat was below earlier projections.

The flow was only 3,600 cubic metres per second, lower than earlier expected 3,800 cubic metres. Moreover, several dams have now reduced the amount of water being released, he said.

"The level of the flow in Chao Phraya which will arrive in Bangkok on Oct 15 to 16 will not be higher than 2.3 to 2.4 metres. The floodwalls in Bangkok are 2.5 metres high, therefore, Bangkok is safe," said Mr Chalit.

Drainage and Sewarage department chief Sanya Cheenimit said the water level of the Chao Phraya river in Bangkok was 2.13 metres above its normal level this morning, breaking last year's record at 2.10 metres.

Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra

The amount of water in the Chao Phraya river flowing past Ayutthaya's Bang Sai's district was measured at 4,250 cubic metres per second. The rate had increased but the situation remained under control, Mr Sanya said.

Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand said evacuation plans must be prepared for 27 communities in flood risk areas and authorities cannot be at ease because of the rising water level.

"I've instructed district chiefs to warn people in 27 communities along the flood barricades to get ready to evacuate for their own safety. If the water level rises above 2.30 metres, people might not be able to stay in their homes and they must evacuate immediately," MR Sukhumbhand said.

People should stay alert from Oct 15 to 18 because there would be high tides, he said.

BMA executives will meet every six hours - 8am, 2pm, 9pm and 2am - to assess the flood situation on a daily basis, he said.

The governor called on district chiefs to reconsider the plan to allow people to park their cars on expressways, as other people might need to use them during an emergency.

Each district would have to find proper places for people to take refuge and store their belongings, he said.

Asked about the science minister's premature flood evacuation alert on Thursday night, M.R Sukhumbhand said only that such announcements could lead to confusion.

"I would like the people to closely follow the situation as reported by the BMA. If an evacuation is necessary, I'll be the one to announce it," the Democrat Party core member said.

"I ask the BMA executives and district chiefs not to be panic or be disturbed by the situation. We must be determined to solve the problem using our leadership skills because the country right now has a leadership vacuum. The BMA must be the main pillar for the people."

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Ref: Bangkok Post