Torrents advancing towards downtown

Floodwater is advancing deeper into Bangkok from its northern outskirts as a northern sluice gate and a dyke failed to limit inflows to save the inner city.

The water level on Rarm Intra Road, both inbound and outbound, continued to rise and the road became impassable yesterday.

On the outbound lanes, water in front of Central department store was 40-50cm deep. The department store remained closed for a second day.

The inbound lanes were also flooded, particularly from kilometer marker 4 to the Laksi circle.

Bid to halt the deluge: Four thousand 2.5-tonne 

sandbags have been used to build a flood wall at

 Rangsit-Muang Ake area in an attempt to stop 

overflow from Khlong Rangsit into Bangkok. 

The dyke length will be about four kilometers.

All minor roads branching from Rarm Intra from Laksi to Rarm Intra Soi 39 were flooded. Fashion Island shopping centre on Rarm Intra Road was closed early Tuesday evening as its parking lot was flooded. Min Buri fresh market was also flooded due to excessive flows from Klong Sam Wa.

Floodwater from Bangkok's Prapa canal entered Pracha Chuen Road and was advancing to the Major Ratchayothin complex in Chatuchak district.

Water continued pouring into Pongpet and Pracha Nukul intersections but vehicles could still pass through.

From Ngam Wong Wan to Vibhavadi Rangsit Road, the water level decreased slightly.

The level in front of Samian Naree temple on Vibhavadi Rangsit Road was about 20cm yesterday.

At Kaset-Phahon Yothin intersection, the water level was 40cm to 50cm and was also advancing steadily towards the Major Ratchayothin complex.

Flooding in western Bangkok is also expanding and only Bang Khun Thien, Bang Bon, Chom Thong, Rat Burana and Thung Khru districts remain safe.

Opposition and Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva yesterday warned the government and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration not to announce any Bangkok districts would be safe from floods.

He said mobs forced open a sluice gate in Klong Sam Wa, sending excess floodwater to Khlong Lat Phrao and inner districts of Bangkok.

Democrat spokesman Chavanond Intarakomalyasut urged the government to convince protesters in Klong Sam Wa district to protect the national interest with clear rehabilitation measures for the people who had to absorb floodwater to protect inner Bangkok.

Meanwhile, Anond Snidvongs, an academic on the water draining committee of the Flood Relief Operations Command (Froc), hopes that the installation of big sandbags along Khlong Rangsit Prayoonsak in Muang Ake housing estate will limit the volume of floodwater from northern Bangkok.

He said the installation was set to be completed this Friday and floodwater from the northern Bangkok districts of Don Muang, Laksi and Bang Khen should be drained off within a week.

He said flooding in western Bangkok would continue for about a month, as about 1.7 to 2 billion cubic metres of water was flowing from Ayutthaya province to Khlong Maha Sawat, which is already overflowing.

Mr Anond said flooding would also continue in eastern Bangkok.