The Meteorological Department has warned Bangkok residents to brace themselves for even more rain and floods over the next few days.
According to The Nation, Bangkok and its adjacent provinces will be experiencing rains, thunderstorms and cloudbursts until next Monday. This is expected to make the current flood situation even worse as the city experiences its highest recorded rainfall in five decades.
Deputy Bangkok Governor Wallop Suwandee has already appealed to citizens for more patience and understanding. He stressed that it takes several hours for the water to drain after a heavy downpour. The city’s drainage system has been proven to be inadequate in handling such a high volume of rainfall. Bangkok’s water-drainage system was designed to handle up to 60 mm of rainfall only and the city has been getting hit with more than 130 mm of rainfall.
Available data showed total rainfall over the 24-hour period ending at 3pm yesterday was 107mm in Pom Prab district, 133mm in Phya Thai district and 134mm in Huai Khwang district. BMA Drainage and Sewerage Department head Sanya Sheenimit said that in just a few hours, 93 mm of rain fell on Rama IX Road.
The flooding was so severe that Phichit province has already declared four of its districts as flood disaster-hit zones. These are: Sam Ngam, Pho Prathap Chang, Bung Narang and Pho Thale, which are located by the Yom River. The Prachin Buri River, on the other hand, has overflowed into riverside communities. Ta Prachum market experienced floodwaters more than 90 cms deep. Meanwhile, the provincial disaster prevention and mitigation office in Ranong issued a warning of flash floods, overflows, landslides and mudslides.
Wallop noted that the BMA had installed pumps at flood-prone areas to alleviate the water and minimize the inconvenience that residents have to bear. Thousands of commuters and motorists get stranded on the road whenever flash floods occur from the heavy downpour.
Bangkok Governor MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra said the BMA is planning to build three additional giant water-drainage tunnels in Bangkok to manage flood problems. The city he said, currently has one giant tunnel, and three more are needed to cover the entire city.
At the same time, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra had instructed Deputy Transport Minister Chatchart Sithipan to create a flood and traffic solving plan for Bangkok and its adjacent provinces. The official was given until Friday, September 28 to submit his team’s recommendations.
