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Bangkok at flood risk

Rainfall, run-off and high tide are three critical factors to determine whether the capital will be inundated and Bangkok's flood risk will peak in two periods, from Friday to Sunday and from October 28 to October 31.

National Flood Relief Centre chief Pracha Promnok said on Tuesday that authorities were working with utmost efforts to save Bangkok from flooding but could not guarantee the outcome.

"The fate of Bangkok depends entirely on how the water situation will turn out," he said.
To defend Bangkok, workers and soldiers are working to fix the earth dike at Pathum Thani's Sam Khok district, seen as the most critical line of defence against the overflowing Chao Phraya, he said.

The dike's collapse at six locations on Tuesday's had already caused inundation at several areas in Pathum Thani following heavy rain in the morning..

The dike must be reparied and fortified within a few days if Bangkok is to be spared from run-off which is expected to arrive Ayutthaya on Friday and the capital this weekend, Pracha said.

The flooding in Pathum Thani will likely spread to Nakhon Pathom, pending the dike repair, he said.

The arrival of run-off in the capital will coincide with the high tide, increasing the flood risk, he said.

The highlights of flood prevention measures in Bangkok include the draining of excess water from Pasak Dam to major canals into Bang Pakong River on the eastern side of the capital.
To fight run-off from the North, Bangkok authorities are building three earth dikes to strengthen the existing flood barriers.

The new dikes will locate near Muang Ake housing estate, around Khlong 1-8 in Rangsit and at Salaya-Taling Chan. The dikes would be 16 kilometer long and Pracha said he could not guarantee a full complettion of the construction before the arrival of run-off.

He said Nakhon Sawan was at the worst level of flood crisis and Ayutthaya was completely inundated.

The only choice left to the authorities was to try and save Bangkok and surrounding areas, including Chachoengsao, Samut Prakan, he said.

Several waterways in Bangkok's eastern parts of Nonk Chok and Min Buri are on the verge of overflowing due to heavy rainfall.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/new/national/Bangkok-at-flood-risk-30167390.html

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