More rain, runoff and high tides coming in early Nov
Bangkok survived yesterday's "perfect storm" scenario - when a combination of rain, runoff from the North and peak seasonal tides failed to raise the Chao Phraya River beyond its 2.5m-high flood barriers - but residents in riverside areas in other provinces weren't so lucky.
City officials remain wary about further rain and runoff from the North, as the capital faces another high tide period from November 6-10.
Hydro and Agro Informatics Institute director Royol Chitradon has suggested that runoff from the North be diverted to areas upstream and that water be released from dams at a lower rate - just as the Royal Irrigation Department said before the tidal peak yesterday.
"If we can't stop runoff from the North, all provinces on the banks of Chao Phraya River will be submerged," Royol said.
He suggested that the prime minister set up a special team with officials from all agencies to tackle the problem - as there was a lot of excess water to drain - and a national-level body was needed to coordinate timely responses.
Royol said HM the King had on Saturday instructed Rajaprachanukroh Foundation chairman Dissathorn Watcharothai to find ways to prepare for a major flood in Ubon Ratchathani, which would take place in three days and be worse than the Nakhon Ratchasima and Bangkok flood.
Bangkok Governor M.R. Sukhumbhand Paribatra yesterday inspected the flooding by helicopter yesterday. He was told that the river rose to 2.1 metres at Pak Klong Talad - less than the expected 2.3 metres. Water being released from the Chao Phraya and Rama 6 dams was flowing into the river at a rate of 4,652 cubic metres a second.
But about 1,000 families in 27 communities outside the area with riverside barriers still suffered flooding.
After his flight over Bangkok, Nonthaburi, Ayutthaya and Samut Prakan, Sukhumbhand expressed sympathy for flood victims, especially those in Ayutthaya. He said it would be a while before the water would recede, but the city was ready to help solve problems on request, as it was clear the situation in Bangkok was controllable today.
In the meantime city officials would work closely with the Royal Irrigation Department to manage runoff from the North so the amount of water released would be lower than 5,000 cubic metres a second, he said.
Bangkok's drainage and sewage department chief Sanya Chinimit said they would keep watching for flooding as water was still flowing down from the North and heavy rain falling. Bangkok would be on alert for another high-tide period from November 6-10 with a peak on November 8, which was tipped to be the year's highest. That could raise the Chao Phraya to 2.32 metres, he said.
Upriver, several provinces in the Chao Phraya basin continued to suffer flooding.
There was chaos in four tambons in Uthai Thani's Muang district yesterday after river overflows on Monday night made the area resemble a vast 1m-2m-deep lake and many residents fled their homes to stay in shelters on higher ground.
In Nonthaburi's Bang Kleuy district, Ban Sribundit 3 residents in Tambon Bang Kleuy were hit by a two-metre flood on Monday night and many couldn't move their belongings fast enough as they had not expected floodwater to go over makeshift dykes in minutes. Two GMC trucks were sent to evacuate elderly and sick villagers through the night.
A two-metre-high dyke also burst in Angthong's Muang district, which caused flooding in two villages in Tambon Phosa. Panicked residents were also forced to move to higher ground.
In Chaiyaphum in the Northeast, water from Chi River swept away a 16-metre bridge at Ban Noen Pho in Ban Kwao district. About 1,000 families were marooned and a large area of farmland flooded. Police in the town were also called to recover the body of a Tambon Na Fai resident, Boonpeng Khumkudkhamin, 35, who drowned while trying to catch fish in an irrigation canal.
