Big-bag compromise

Ten-metre section of barrier reduced from 120cm to 80cm in height to appease angry residents

Authorities yesterday agreed to create a wider gap in the "big-bag" floodwall in response to a protest from Don Muang residents.

A 10-metre-wide section of the floodwall in Bangkok's Don Muang district will no longer stand as high as 120 centimetres. 

After a Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) team talked to residents and met with the Flood Relief Operations Centre (FROC), it was agreed that the section would be just 80cm high.

The section had in any case sustained much damage since Sunday afternoon, with more than 100 angry residents having dismantled it, reportedly out of frustration that the flood-water level in their communities had hardly dropped, while areas south of the big-bag wall had seen a significant improvement.

Before Sunday, authorities had allowed just a minor gap of no more than 6m for people to travel between the two sides of the floodwall more conveniently.

Stretching for 15.5 kilometres across many districts, the large-sandbag structure is credited with saving the capital's inner zone from inundation.

Since the floodwall went up in northern Bangkok a week ago, the situation has improved significantly, with the water level on the Vihbhavadi-Rangsit Road in areas south of the structure having fallen rapidly.

Bangkok Governor MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra yesterday assigned deputy Bangkok city clerk Sompop Ra-ngabtuk to talk to Don Muang residents.

A BMA team as well as local leaders later had a meeting with the FROC.

According to many water experts, the removal of the floodwall would not really benefit people in Don Muang district because additional run-off from the upper part of the country would then rage into their areas, leaving them inundated.

Sukhumbhand said there had been a 23cm difference in the water level in areas north and south of the floodwall in Don Mueang district on Sunday, but this been reduced to just 15cm yesterday.

"I think very soon the flood-water level on both sides will be the same," he added.

An informed source said seven more pumps had been installed along the Bang Sue Canal as the BMA Drainage and Sewerage Department was struggling to cope with the impact from the dismantled section of the big-bag floodwall.

To date, serious flooding has led to the Bangkok governor issuing evacuation orders to the entire area of 13 districts in the capital: Don Muang, Sai Mai, Lak Si, Bang Khen, Bang Phlat, Thawi Watthana, Taling Chan, Bang Khae, Phasi Charoen, Nong Khaem, Chatuchak, Klong Sam Wa and Khan Na Yow.

He has also ordered evacuations of locals in many areas of eight other districts: Bang Khunthien, Bangkok Noi, Nong Chok, Lat Phrao, Bangkok Yai, Chom Thong, Beung Kum and Bang Bon.

In Bang Khunthien district, more than 100 angry locals gathered and blocked some traffic lanes of the Rama II Road for nearly an hour yesterday.

They demanded a pump to better facilitate the flow of water in Lahan Canal, as the overflow had resulted in their homes being inundated.

They dispersed only after BMA officials promised to install the pump for them.

At some spots, the flood-water level was more than 1m deep. Residents of many local communities had to travel around by boat because their homes are on ground much lower than Rama II Road.

Rama II is a major route for transportation between the South of the country and the capital.