Water receding in 11 districts

Flood levels remain above 80cm in 560 locations covering 12 districts; Bangkok deputy gov says. City's main roads will be dry in two weeks

Flood water has receded in 11 Bangkok districts as drainage is underway at full steam, while water levels are stable in Phasi Charoen and Bang Khae districts, while they went up in Min Buri and Klong Sam Wa.

Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra said the bigbag barrier along Vibhavadi Rangsit Road did not work well and was breached at three locations. 

He said flood water on Phetkasem Road, an alternative to Rama II Road as a route to the South of the country, was being drained.

Sukhumbhand's opinion over the effectiveness of the bigbag barrier was at odds with a statement by his deputy, Theerachon Manomaiphibool, that it had worked well. 

The deputy said the water level between the two bigbag sides was 30cm, and would continue decreasing. The big bags increased the floodwater level at BTS Mor Chit Station by 5cm and Wat Lat Phrao by 2cm.

"Within two weeks, main roads in Bangkok will be dry," he added.

An earlier statement by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration's floodrelief centre said water had receded in Don Muang, Lak Si, Sai Mai, Thawee Watthana, Taling Chan, Bang Phlat, Bang Sue, Nong Chok, Lat Krabang, Khan Na Yao and Lat Phrao districts.

The level remains above 80cm at 560 locations in 12 districts.

A Phaholyothin Road section at the Kamphaeng Phet intersection is dry, as is a Charan Sanitwong Road section from Bang Phlat to Boromratchonani. 

A road network nearby connecting to ArunAmarin Road by the Chao Phraya River is still flooded but small vehicles can now use it.

In Pathum Thani, the floodwater level in three heavily inundated districts has receded, although Route 345 connecting this province to Bangkok remains under water, and water at many luxury housing estates is still chesthigh.

Bhumibhol Dam is now releasing 26 million cubic metres of water, much lower than during the peak of the flood in Central provinces. The drainage has been ordered to make possible a boat race in Tak and Kamphaeng Phet provinces. 

Nakhon Sawan has also seen lower currents in three major rivers and lower levels in urban areas, although one of the main roads is under a metre of water.

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Meanwhile, Major Cineplex Group will reopen two cineplexes in Pinklao, as the flood level in the area recedes.

In a statement, the company said that the standalone branch will resume normal service tomorrow, starting with a 10am show.

Meanwhile, its cineplex branch inside Central Plaza Pinklao will reopen its doors on Monday.

Since floods hit Bangkok, the company that operates nearly 70 per cent of theatres in Thailand has closed operations of 12 branches - MajorRangsit, FutureRangsit, Big CNava Nakorn, LotusNava Nakorn, Chaeng Wattana, Fashion Island, Thanyaburi, MajorPinklao, CentralPinklao, Petchkasaem, Salaya and Ratchayothin. It also closed seven bowling branches.

Central Pinklao will also open tomorrow.