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Flood-warning devices will be installed in 500 high-risk areas of the country soon to help avert rainy-season disasters, National Disaster Warning Centre (NDWC) executive director Plodprasop Suraswadi said Sunday.

While actual flooding is expected to be worst in the South, the danger to populated areas is deemed to be worse in the North, so that region will be given priority, he said.

"Initially a budget of Bt400 million-Bt500 million should cover the costs. We have to install them before the rainy season [progresses any further] as Thailand will be affected by [the weather system] La Nina. The South could be most affected as it has little natural forest cover, just rubber trees, which fall easily," he said.

He said the government didn't have the funds to install devices in 2,400 spots at once as earlier reported. Establishing a database that categorises the areas into four risk levels based on meteorology, hydrography (water science) and soil science and using existing warning systems would be more efficient, he said.

However, the plan to install a flood-warning system is expected to be ready for the Cabinet meeting to be held within the next two weeks, he said. Related agencies should discuss the plan together, he said.

The Nation