Flood waters not for krathongs

Authorities have warned Bangkok residents against floating their krathongs in flood water.

Krathongs are decorative floats that Thais have for centuries floated on the night of Loy Krathong, one of the country's most colourful festivals. This year, the Loy Krathong festival falls tomorrow.

However, millions of Bangkok residents are now surrounded by flood water and many may be tempted to launch their floats in front of their inundated homes, a move that many agencies fear could cause fire.

People usually light candles on their krathongs.

"If your floats get trapped in a house and cause fire, you will face legal action," Deputy Metropolitan Police Commissioner Maj-General Amnuay Nimmano warned.

He said revellers should strictly float their krathongs in prepared areas only.

Bangkok Governor MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra said the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) would open unaffected public parks for the Loy Krathong festival so that people could celebrate a centuries-old tradition.

According to a senior BMA official, up to 16 public parks will be open for the Loy Krathong Festival, including Lumpini, Benjakiti and Benjasiri parks.

"Don't float krathongs from your flooded houses as that might cause fires," Sukhumbhand warned.

He also advised people against floating krathongs in the Chao Phraya River and canals with strong currents.

"It can be dangerous," the governor warned.

PM considering 'Big Bags' for western Bangkok

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra is considering to build additional 'Big Bag' barriers to control the deluge in the western part of the Thai capital after using them in northern Bangkok with satisfactory results, Transport Minister Sukumpol Suwanatat said on Monday.

Air Chief Marshal Sukumpol asserted that the 'Big Bag' can slow the rate of water flow in the northern parts of the capital and workers are now trying to quickly reinforce damaged barriers.

The transport minister referred to the success of operations using the one- and two-tonne sandbags piled up as a makeshift flood prevention dykes for six kilometres on the Rangsit-Muang Ek Road to reduce the volume of water flowing into Don Muang, Lak Si and Bang Khen districts, and Khlong Prapa, the main source of tap water for the capital and neighbouring provinces.

"Prime Minister Yingluck is thinking to build more flood prevention barriers along 10km Bang Sue-Talingchan route to curb the amount of water in western Bangkok," said the minister. The authorities will study their use to determine "whether the operations could be carried out or not, as a river bridge in the area could be an obstacle."

For water drainage from Bangkok, Marshal Sukumpol said the operations will be done in accord with the system of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), but the Flood Relief Operations Centre (FROC) stands ready to provide help.

The minister stated that BMA water drainage is expected to be complete in two weeks.

Transport Minister Sukumpol said he would ask the cabinet to extend toll-free expressway period after normal roads are impassable.

Floodwater has reportedly surged from drainage pipelines around 100 metres away from the premier's home in Soi Yothinpattana 3 in Navamind Road on Monday, even as the prime minister is visiting flood victims in Ta Sai community, Laksi district.

Ronnachit Yaemsaard, acting governor of the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA), said all 18 MRT underground stations are operating as usual although water keeps rising, but not yet at a level which poses a threat to the system.

Mr Ronnachit said the MRTA must closely monitor the flood situation at Chatuchak Station after it had earlier put three stations -- Ratchadapisek, Phaholyothin, and Lat Phrao -- are under close watch.

The acting governor noted his agency will decide whether and when underground stations will be closed depending on when floodwater reaches the second step of station entrances.

As of now, Mr Ronnachit explained, floodwater has hit only the first step of the entrance of the affected stations, such as Phaholyothin Station

Bangkok expected to escape worst of flooding

BANGKOK, Thailand - An aerial photo shows a flooded residential area in northern Bangkok, Thailand.

Thailand's prime minister said Monday that she hopes the process of draining floodwater through Bangkok can be sped up now that peak high tides that saw the city's main waterway rise to record levels have passed.

Higher than normal tides pushing up the Chao Phraya River from the Gulf of Thailand in recent days have complicated efforts to drain the floodwater that has been surging through the city as it makes its way from provinces that have been submerged and suffering for up to two months.

The runoff from the country's worst flooding in more than a half-century has put extreme pressure on the pumps, sandbags and dikes protecting Bangkok, though they have largely held and most of the capital remained dry.

Video: Thailand urges evacuations as flooding worsens

Heavy flooding gushes into Bangkok's riverfront

Threatening floodwaters close in on Thai capital

"If there is no more additional water, the current runoff might not cause heavy flooding in Bangkok," Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said, though she noted there was still a massive amount of water that needs to pass through the capital's complex network of rivers, canals and tunnels as it makes its way to the sea.

While that will come as welcome news to people in Bangkok's dry downtown core who had been bracing for possible flooding all weekend, it will be little relief to those in the city's far north and west who have seen floodwaters rise and spread.

Fifteen of the Bangkok's 50 districts have now seen flooding, and people in six districts have been told to evacuate.

"The water that came in our neighborhood was massive and had immense power," said 29-year-old Yibporn Ratanawit, who lives in Thonburi on the Chao Phraya's western bank. "As we were stepping out of our gate to evacuate, one of our walls totally collapsed to the neighbor's side and the water rushed into their house. It was like a nightmare."

"I think the Thonburi side will all be gone eventually because the water has not stopped rising," she said.

While much of the government's attention in recent days has been focused on protecting Bangkok, Thailand's political and economic heart, there have been growing complaints that those in areas north of the capital, some of whom have been underwater for weeks or months, have been forgotten.

Yingluck sought to address those concerns Monday with a post on her Facebook page.

"The government is concerned about every individual who has experienced flooding, as well as those facing a lengthy period of floods," she said. "The government has emphasized with the provincial governors to exhaustively take care of the people."

The floods, which began in late July and were exacerbated by heavier than usual monsoon rains and a string of tropical storms, have killed 381 people and affected more than a third of the country's provinces. The water has destroyed millions of acres of crops and forced thousands of factories to close.