PM: Inner Bangkok should be safe

Inner areas of Bangkok will probably escape being flooded provided everybody does their part in keeping the situation under close watch, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said on Wednesday.

Ms Yingluck was speaking after a vdieo conference with governors of 14 flood-hit provinces on Wednesday afternoon.

Areas outside the protected zone were flood-prone, but the water would not rise too high because it would be quickly drained out, she said.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra carries a baby who was rescued in flood-hit Ayutthaya. (Photo by Phongthai Wattanavanitvut)

The prime minister warned people to be prepared to move their belongings to high ground and has asked the governors to lay down a plan to set up alternative evacuation centres in case of emergency.

During the video conference, Pathum Thani governor Pirasak Hinmuangkao said the existing floodwalls were too old and always in disrepair because many people do not want them and frequently take away the sandbags. He asked the government to declare a state of emergency and provide manpower to reinforce the floodwalls, or the water could surge toward Bangkok by midnight.

Ms Yingluck said it was not yet necessary to declare a state of emergency. She said army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha had been ordered to supply troops help strengthen the floodwalls.

The Social Development and Human Security Ministry has been instructed to look for more sites for evacuation centres, she said.

The premier said that the construction of three floodwalls to protect inner Bangkok from flooding will be completed tomorrow.

Ms Yingluck, speaking at the National Flood Relief Operations Centre at Don Mueang airport, was referring to the floodwalls at Muang Ake housing estate in Pathum Thani, at Rangsit Khlong 5, and in the Taling Chan area behind the Salaya campus of Mahidol University.

Sandbags have been brought from many different places to reinforce the floodwalls at these spots and the required number, 1.7 million, was available, Ms Yingluck said.

The prime minister said the government would do everything it could to cope with the flooding.

Representatives of all flood-hit provinces had been invited to a meeting today for a brainstorming session, she said.

However, people's safety is the prime concern. Efforts to prevent flooding will continue in areas where prevention is possible. For areas where prevention is not possible, it was essential there be a plan to evacuate them to safety.

"Priority must be given to the safety of the people before protecting their property. We can't do both at the same time.  We will have to learn from other provinces which have experienced heavy flooding," the prime minister said.

She later assigned 10 police Huey helicopters to transport relief supplies and necessities to flood-hit people in Ayutthaya province.

She said the government will also monitor retailers in flood-hit areas to prevent profiteering through unjustified price hikes.

The prime minister said she had instructed the Commerce Ministry to prevent producers and retailers from taking advantage of the flood crisis that has battered about 30 provinces for more than two months.

"If I were asked whether the government can handle the flood situation, I would say we'll have to do our best because there are many uncontrollable factors, but we'll try to mobilise all forces," Ms Yingluck said.

She said the Meteorological Department reported that a new storm forming over the Philippines is not of concern and the rainy season is ending.

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