Heavy rain turned many of Bangkok’s roads into rivers this weekend, causing major traffic headaches.
Things were particularly bad for Friday evening’s rush hour commute when rain that began around 4pm created gridlock throughout the capital.
Flooded roads on Friday included Vibhavadi, Phahonyothin, Sutthisan Winitchai, Ratchadaphisek, Ramkhamhaeng, Ngam Wong Wan and Charan Sanitwong, the Bangkok Post reported.
Bangkok governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra said yesterday that he was worried about low-lying parts of the city and ordered officials to be vigilant in the case of more heavy rain.
“For flood risk areas which are located in low-lying plains such as the Setthakij housing estate in Bang Khae distirct, Ratchada, Thung Khru and Bang Bon, City Hall officials will be sent in immediately [to prepare for floods] if the weather forecast says there will be heavy rain,” the governor said. “Of the 27 communities located outside the city’s flood walls [along the Chao Phraya River], officials continue to ask residents to leave the areas. City Hall has started to build embankments in some communities where people had agreed [to leave].”
Sukhumbhand said that 130-150 millimeters of rain per day had fell on Bangkok in the last three days, but that the city’s drains could only handle about 60 millimeters per day.
Regarding the northern run-off, he said that he didn’t know the exact amount of water that was flowing towards Bangkok but that he believed it would be less than last year.
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