It appears as if Bangkok has passed the first critical period of potential flooding without major inundations in the city.
A section of massive flood run-off from the North moved through the Chao Phraya River and out to sea yesterday Oct. 16 without major flooding in the capital. That run-off hitting Bangkok combined with high tides on Oct. 15-16 made for a perfect storm for flooding, but so far defenses have held up.
The next big test for the city is Oct. 28-30 when seasonal high tides will return.
Still, Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Theera Wongsamut told the Bangkok Post that the worst has past and that Bangkok would not flood. Theera said that the water level of the Chao Phraya on Saturday measured 2.29 meters, a centimeter below what the Royal Irrigation Department had predicted.
Heavy rains over the last few days have exacerbated nerves and led to inundations in some parts of Bangkok, including Klong Sam Wa, Lat Krabang, Min Buri and Nong Chok districts. They are expected to continue for the next few days as a monsoon trough lies over central Thailand, according to the Thai Meteorological Department.
Thammasat Universit’s Rangsit campus on the banks of the Chao Phraya, already slightly flooded as reported by Coconuts Bangkok Oct. 15, is at risk of more serious inundations, according to the Nation. Gymnasium 1, which is being used as a shelter for about 3,600 flood victims, remains safe.
Irrigation Department head Chalit Damrongsak said that the Nava Nakorn industrial estate in Pathum Thani, just north of Bangkok, is safe as a broken sluice gate at Khlong Phrao has been fixed, the Bangkok Post has reported. The broken sluice gate caused panic when Science and Technology Minister Plodprasop Suraswadi made a public evacuation announcement that turned out to be unwarranted.
Up to 1,000 boats are current out on the Chao Phraya, Tha Chin, and Bang Pakong rivers helping move water out to sea by running their propellors. PM Yingluck said that despite the relatively small amount of water the boats move, the action was still “worthwhile and efficient” the AFP reported.
