Bangkok Governor MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra said yesterday that he would see to it that all roads and sois in the capital are dry as a New Year gift for Bangkokians.
However, he yesterday warned residents in Prawet, Saphan Sung and Bangkok Yai districts to move their belongings to higher ground and prepare for possible evacuation.
Yesterday afternoon, Sukhumbhand boarded a 10-wheel truck to hand out relief bags and inspect conditions along Bang Khae district's Buddha Monthon 2 Road, which has been flooded for two weeks.
The water has receded by 10cm but is now very polluted, so the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA)'s Environment Office brought three water tanks containing EM (effective micro-organisms) water to treat the flood water.
Sukhumbhand said he had announced 22 additional communities in Prawet and Saphan Sung districts as flood-watch areas. He said the additional areas in Bangkok Yai were: Tha Phra sub-district's Soi Phetchkasem 15,16,17,17/1, 18 and 18/1.
Wat Arun sub-district's Soi Issaraparp 33 and 42, Ananthabhum, Wat Nakklang, Wat Mai Wichien, the Trok Ta-an communities on Issaraparp Road as well as the Wat Kreuwal, Pok Arun, Wat Moleelokayaram communities on Arun Amarin Road; and Wat Tha Phra sub-district's Soi Ratchadapisek 25 and Soi Charansanidwong 3, 7/1, 9, 9/1, 11, 12, 14.
Saying the flood situation should improve within two weeks if there was no more runoff, he said the "Big Bag" floodwall had helped staunch the flow of water.
He urged people not to destroy floodwalls or take any action before talking with authorities. "This New Year, I want to give a gift to people: My goal is to have Bangkok dry in all areas, not just main roads but also the sois," he said.
In order to tackle the flooding in western Bangkok, Sukhumbhand said the city's flood-mitigation meeting yesterday proposed diverting the flood water into Rajamontri and Sanam Chai canals and to the Mahachai-Sanam Chai "monkey cheek" water-retention area.
Water from Bang Bon canal would be pushed through the Ekkachai sluice gate to prevent severe flooding on Rama II Road of the kind that swamped Vibhavadi and Phetchakasem roads, he added.
The BMA also asked the Metropolitan Electricity Authority to install more water pumps to assist flood-affected people in western Bangkok, he said.
The BMA also had 34 water-tank trucks spray EM liquid to treat polluted flood water resulting from mounting garbage piles. Garbage collection is being done by boat, and is proceeding slowly.
He said the BMA had managed to collect 900 tons of garbage - or 47 per cent of all garbage in the city. The authority yesterday started to provide 170 trucks to transport people around flooded areas on 21 routes through Bangkok from 6am to 10pm everyday, Sukhumbhand said, adding that it was also preparing a project to bring flood evacuees home.
The BMA reported that 494,893 people in 12 Bangkok districts have been affected by the floods caused by northern runoff. Sai Mai district had the most flood victims at 87,229, followed by Don Mueang (86,561), Phasee Charoen (51,920), Lak Si (51,226), Bang Phlad (51,055), Bang Khae (36,250) and Nong Khaem (35,852).
As of yesterday, Vibhavadi, Phaholyothin and Kasetsart University roads had seen flood water lowered by 5cm-20cm, while Borommaratchachonnani Road (from Central Pinklao mall to Sirindhorn Elevated Way) and Somdet Phrapinklao Road were under 30cm of water.
Arun Amarin Road from Arun Amarin Intersection to Siriraj Hospital and to the Rama VIII Bridge were under some 50cm of water.
However, Prawet district reported a high water level in Prawet Burirom canal and 30cm-deep water in some communities on On Nut and Pattanakan roads, such as Muangthong Garden Ville in Soi Pattanakarn 65.
In related news, Airports of Thailand chairman ACM Sumet Phomanee yesterday said officials were speedily repairing key parts of Don Mueang Airport targeted for early re-opening.
It was expected that, after the "Big Bag" floodwall was completed to protect the airport's eastern runways on Tuesday, and the floodwater had subsided, it would take 60 days to repair the airport in full.
He expressed 100-per-cent confidence that Suvarnabhumi Airport would be safe from flooding.
Meanwhile, Siriraj Hospital yesterday urged its medical staff to report to their supervisors by Wednesday on whether they would be able to continue working, in order to plan services to support incoming patients.
No comments:
Post a Comment