Bangkok should be dry by early December unless something like a major dyke breach occurs, Dutch water expert Adri Verwey has proclaimed.
Verwey is a senior specialist in modeling systems at independent Dutch water research institute Deltares, and was invited by the Thai government to help with the flooding. His prediction contrasts with that from the Royal Irrigation Department, which said that it expects Bangkok to be dry in 11 days.
“You can say you have an enormous pump capacity. But for water to get there it’s going to take longer because only a number of these pumps can be effectively used,” Verwey, who has 40 years of experience, told the Bangkok Post. He admitted though, that forecasting flooding is like forecasting the weather.
This flood crisis has been unique, Verwey said, because of the massive and unusually slow-moving volume of water. The water was so spread out that its “enormous power” was underestimated.
Verway opined the Thailand would greatly benefit from better forecasting technology like satellite images, model simulations, and radars.
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