Bangkok could be hit by storm surge, Smith says

Authorities in Samut Prakan said Smith's warning was not clear and questioned his reluctance to pinpoint a date, but Bangkok Governor Apirak Kosayodhin said city officials would stage an emergency drill on Sunday on what to do if the city was hit with a major storm causing high waves. 

Smith told 1,500 participants at a "storm surge" semi¬nar at the Samut Prakan Civil Hall that this month - until September - was a dangerous period climatically, because, if a storm gathered, it would sweep through at about 118 kilometres per hour. That would cause waves of 2.2 to 4.5 metres and be the worst storm to strike the city in 50 years, he said.

Smith officials to set up a good warning system, such as a live television pool, and preventive measures to keep floodwater out of many provinces.

Samut Prakan Governor Anuwat Methiwibulwut said local authorities would work to set up a better warning system.

Tambon Khlong Dan Mayor Narong Klomklorm said many people were confused and fearful of such a disaster but Smith did not clarify at the seminar as to when such a storm might come. His vague comment made locals scared, he said, so he would invite meteorological officials to talk to locals about storm surges and warning signs such any bug migration of bugs.

Bangkok Governor Apirak said the city had a clear opera¬tion plan to prevent, mitigate and recover from disasters. A drill would be held on Sunday on a storm surge and the city would also distribute a basic handbook to inform residents what to do in the event of such disasters, he said.

The drill was a precautionary measure, not confirmation that there would be a storm surge, so the public should not panic.

He urged people to monitor www.bangkok.go.th for weather reports after Sunday, saying storms usually take four to six days to form, so people should get an early warning if one was coming.