This work was now expected to be complete by early next week, the Bangkok Metropolitan Admin-istration (BMA) said yesterday.

Deputy Supreme Commander General Pairoaj Panichsamai and Deputy Bangkok Governor Bannasopit Mekwichai inspected flooding on Onnuj-Lat Krabang Road and Khum Klao Road yesterday afternoon.

Bannasopit said Bangkok had received 1,148 millimetres of rain this year. In addition, water released from dams was reaching the city at a rate of 3,276 cubic metres per second, and the massive inflow of seawater into the Chao Phya River and associated canals was at 1.92 metres above sea level.

This has meant drainage of floodwater from various areas was slower than expected, especially on the city's east, where drainage had slowed to 1 to 2 centimetres an hour, she said.

Therefore, the BMA had asked the Army to help excavate the 20 canals along Bang Na-Trat Road to quicken drainage into the Gulf, she said. Officials in eastern Bangkok have also been asked to build earthen dikes to prevent flooding.

Meanwhile, Pathum Thani Governor Nares Jitsujaritwong said all districts in the province except Nong Sua were flooded.

And he had declared the districts of Muang Pathum Thani, Sam Khok, Lat Lum Kaeo, Klong Luang, Thanyaburi and Lam Luk Ka as disaster zones.

Pathum Thani has been hit hard by flood-water from the North, which has caused water levels to rise by 50cm a day. Officials built earthen dikes along Wat Bang Kradi Road to keep water out of the local industrial area.

Deputy BMA spokesman Thanom Onketpol revealed an initial flood-damage assessment for eastern Bangkok. He said a total of 17 schools, 99 communities and more than 65,000 rai of farmland had been hit by flooding in Nong Chok, Min Buri, Lat Krabang and Klong Sam Wa districts.

A total for the estimated damage would be determined later and submitted to the Agriculture Ministry's compensation fund.

To fight flooding, the city has installed water pumps along numerous roads and communities, piled sandbags as flood barriers and distributed medicine and relief bags to affected residents, he said.