Residents of the area around Khlong Sam Wa seemed to be pacified by the rate of water flow out of Khlong Sam Wa sluice gate, this afternoon Nov. 1.
Residents living north of the gate have been inundated in a few feet of floodwater since August, they said. Parts of the gate were destroyed at some point recently allowing more flow of water out of the flooded zone. This seemed to have appeased the residents as there were only about 30 local residents at the sluice gate, while Sunday reports said that there were around 1,000 people there. Also in attendance were quite a few journalists and about 20 riot police seated under tents in the shade. The atmosphere was relaxed though riot police, who had earlier reportedly clashed with local residents, helped unload portable toilets for the flooded community.
According to people at the scene, the sluice gate is now opened to one meter in accordance with Prime Minister Yingluck’s order. Bangkok governor Sukhumbhand has expressed fear that opening the Klong Sam Wa floodgate too much could inundate the valuable Bang Chan Industrial Estate in eastern Bangkok. Deputy governor Teerachon Manomaipipul said today that opening the sluice gate wider will flood all 50 Bangkok districts, according to TAN.
Behind the floodwall, residents carried on with their normal life seemingly unfazed despite being surrounded by fetid, stinking water. Elderly men and women sat and chatted in the shade on a raised concrete walkway while children played with debris from the floodwaters – one child, unfortunately, with a syringe.
The Khlong Sam Wa sluice gate from the northern, flooded side.
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Water flows past the destroyed section on the left.
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A chunk was taken out of the gate supposedly by local residents.
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Life in the inundated area behind the sluice gate.
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Riot police helped unload and deliver a portable toilet.
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Fishermen.
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Photos: Coconuts Bangkok
